RCMP CRACK DOWN ON DRUG TRADE

Cracking down on drug activity in the city will continue to be a top
priority for police, promises Portage la Prairie's top cop.

RCMP Insp. Gilles Guertin made the comment on Friday after reviewing
October's crime statistics.

Figures show during the first 10 months of this year, police laid 69
charges under the federal Controlled Drugs and Substance Act.

That is a 60 per cent increase over the same period in 2001, said Guertin.

Of the 69 reported drug offences between January and October, 49 were for
marijuana possession while two were for cocaine possession.

So far this year, nine charges of marijuana trafficking have also been laid.

"Cannabis is a very popular drug. It is predominant in Portage. It's
predominant everywhere, as a matter of fact," said the RCMP inspector,
noting Portage is not the only Canadian city to record an increase in drug
charges this year. The trend is reported nationwide.

Guertin said the rising number is also a result of RCMP detachments across
the country making a concerted effort to curb drug use in their communities.

"We are taking steps to address the drug problem. We know we are never
going to snuff it out. It's here and it's here to stay but there are
proactive steps we can take to reduce usage," he said.

Over the next few months, a greater emphasis will not only be placed on
drug enforcement but on education as well, Guertin pledged.

"In order to step up the enforcement, we have to receive the intelligence,"
he pointed out. "Our members are going to be out there to develop all sorts
of sources to try to get more drug information."

The RCMP inspector also announced as part of its strategy to reduce drug
activity, the Portage detachment plans to launch a new program in area
schools in early 2003.

"The Drug Alcohol Resistance Education program will be starting here. We
hope to have it in place by January," said Guertin, who noted the program,
targetted at students in grades 4 and 5, will be run by local police.

"It is something that I simply cannot give to a civilian and say 'Why don't
you run with this?' It has to be delivered by police to be effective," he
explained.

Portage RCMP has yet to receive money for the new initiative.

An official with the Portage office of the Addictions Foundation of
Manitoba said he believes the RCMP's new program will be a welcome addition
to the drug prevention strategies already being used in the city.

"I think it's wonderful. You can never have too many programs," said Harry
Isfeld, the AFM's prevention/education consultant. "I've seen the program.
It looks good in terms of the information they're giving."