RCMP in East Kootenay put dent in drug trade, alarmed to find deals going down in daycare and high school parking lots
By Nelson Daily Staff
Police in the East Kootenay hope, through a pilot project drug enforcement initiative they have put a serious dent in drug trade.
RCMP said during an update to both the public and town councils Friday (May 4) the drug enforcement initiative has forwarded more than 25 drug related charges to crown counsel to date, including 19 individuals facing charges for Trafficking in a Controlled Substance.
“Our intention is to continue with this enforcement effort for a determined period of time, at the conclusion of which, the RCMP, the public and community stakeholders will be able to further review the findings and determine the need for a more long term strategy,” said acting OIC Cranbrook Sgt Laurie Jalbert in a RCMP press release.
Police said 17 incidents involved the trafficking of cocaine or heroine.
Quantities of drugs seized during the street level transactions varied between .5 to three grams of cocaine and heroine being sold in points of a gram as well.
Not all arrested were adults, with a number being in their teens and involved both genders. The youngest individual arrested was 16 years old.
Arrests and subsequent seizures of illicit drugs in street level transactions also led to search warrant seizures at several residences.
Police were alarmed to find some traffickers plying their trade in public areas such as daycare parking lots during daytime business hours and high school parking lots outside of normal school hours.
“Given the age of some involved, we do recognize the immediate need for the RCMP, families and community agencies to continue our efforts of messaging to our youth that their involvement with drugs has severe consequences that will impact their health and well being in very negative ways,” said Cranbrook Cpl Pat Prefontaine.
Drugs seized to date include: cocaine, suspected crack cocaine, heroin, suspected methamphetamine, acid (LSD or Lysergic acid diethylamide), magic mushrooms (Psilocybin), marihuana, hash and suspected MDMA (Ecstasy).
