DEER LAKE RESIDENTS FACE DRUG CHARGES AFTER MONTH-LONG RCMP INVESTIGATION

A month-long RCMP investigation resulted in the arrest of two Deer Lake
residents and the seizure of a quantity of drugs Monday.

Local officers and the police dog services executed a warrant on a local
residence in the early hours of Monday morning.

During a search of the premises, the officers discovered a quantity of
hashish, hash oil and marijuana. As a result of the search, a 47-year-old
man and a 50-year-old woman, both Deer Lake residents, were charged with
two counts of possession of controlled substances for the purpose of
trafficking.

Police are estimating the seized drugs would have fetched about $10,800 on
the street.

Sergeant Bruce Whillans said the names of the two won't be released until
they appear in provincial court in February.

Sgt. Whillans said the arrests mark a substantial seizure for the Humber
Valley community. He went on to say that police will be looking to take
down other local dealers in 2003.

"It's a fair sized quantity for Deer Lake," Sgt. Whillans told The Western
Star. "It was certainly destined for the front line here in Deer Lake,
youth and other users.

"There's no spin-off investigations at this time. But these arrests are
good for Deer Lake because one of the things we're trying to do is target
people in town who we suspect are using or distributing drugs. Hopefully,
we'll take a few more down over the next year."

The woman was released on an undertaking but the man was held in custody
after threatening the arresting officers.

The man will answer to the additional charge of uttering threats to cause
death. Both are facing trafficking charges and will be in Deer Lake
provincial court on Feb. 20.