DRUG CRACKDOWN DRIES UP SUPPLY

Powell River RCMP have released data from its targeted drug
enforcement efforts of the last 18 months, claiming the numbers of
arrests and seizures translate into a significant decrease in illicit
drug activity in the community.

According to the report, the increased drug enforcement between
November 2005 and April 2007 resulted in the following:

Arrest of 177 individuals for drug-related offenses.

Prosecution of 100 individuals for drug possession and drug
trafficking.

Seizure of about $3.5 million dollars of cocaine and marijuana.

Seizure of about $45,000 in cash.

Seizure of 12 vehicles and 12 illegal firearms.

Recovery of $40,000 of stolen property.

Corporal Dennis Blanch, in charge of the general investigation section
and municipal drug enforcement unit, said the strategic plans
governing the targeted enforcement have been in place for two years
and are ongoing.

Blanch also reported an increase in drug investigations, which he said
was indicative of more enforcement.

"These initiatives have had a significant impact," he said. "Daily
users are saying these initiatives have driven up prices. We've also
had a significant drop in property-related offences."

Blanch said a lot remains to be done around drug issues in Powell
River, including issues of treatment and addiction services. "A
majority of people in the illicit drug trade are addicts themselves.
That's where, as a community, we need to focus our attention."

The data pleased Nora Koros, manager of Powell River Mental Health and
Addiction Services, a public service funded by the BC Ministry of
Health through the Vancouver Coastal Health Authority.

"We haven't noticed anything recently, but when there was the last big
wave of seizures, it almost motivated clients to come to treatment,"
she said. "What they said was, 'All my dealers have been arrested and
maybe this is a good time to clean up.'"

Police seizures cut off the drug supply, which made it a good time for
users to seek treatment, she said. "We need enforcement if we're going
to have a four-pillar approach."

Vancouver Coastal Health is responsible for work on the other three
pillars of Canada's drug strategy--harm reduction, prevention and treatment.