POLICE TAKE DRUG FIGHT TO THE STREETS

Call it spring cleaning.

The Ottawa Police Service has launched a drug enforcement initiative,
cracking down on open drug use and street-level trafficking.

Nine adults, ranging in age from 28 to 44, have been arrested over
the past two days, netting a total of 22 charges for drug-related
offences and on outstanding warrants.

Officers with the central east neighbourhood division made the
arrests after staking out trouble spots on Daly Ave., Cumberland St.
and Nicholas St. in the Byward Market area.

Staff Sgt. Paul Johnston called the busts "significant."

"We know that area is problematic," said Johnston. "Some of the
people that are addicted to crack are being preyed on by the local
street-level dealers."

The operation was aided by the Neighbourhood Watch.

"The community was very helpful in reporting everything they saw that
was suspicious, and we took it from there," said Johnston.

Undercover officers acted on tips and conducted surveillance over the
past two weeks. When hand-to-hand transactions were witnessed,
plainclothes officers moved in on foot, on bikes and in cars.

"We even used the Air Services Unit, the plane in the air watching
and tracking," said Johnston.

Police plan on expanding the initiative.

"The street-level traffickers are definitely in our radar, and we
will be addressing that as one of our priorities for the rest of the
year," said Johnston.