Pubdate: Fri, 03 Sep 2004 Source: Red Deer Advocate (CN AB) Copyright: 2004 Red Deer Advocate Contact: http://www.reddeeradvocate.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2492 Author: Jack Wilson WINNING THE WAR ON DRUGS IN CITY? Police believe drug dealers are feeling the heat in the ongoing war to stem the flow of narcotics in Red Deer. Cpl. Steve Cormack, head of the city detachment drug squad, said on Thursday that police raided a downtown house about 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday but didn't find what they expected. "We were looking for cocaine. Unfortunately, we didn't get any cocaine but found a small amount of marijuana." The timing was right but the cocaine wasn't present because the suppliers may have been scared off by the ongoing police push, Cormack said. "The people we were talking to said the shipment was supposed to be in the day before but because of the (numerous recent raids), the supplier didn't want to bring it in." Names haven't been released because the charges haven't been sworn yet. Police also raided a hotel room and arrested nine people on Wednesday, but again only a small amount of drugs was found. The police pressure may have accounted for that as well, Cormack said. In the bust at the house on 48th Avenue and 52nd Street, police discovered "every type of knife you could imagine" including numerous daggers, machetes and cleavers. Two people were arrested on outstanding warrants and two others were charged with drug and weapon offences. Cormack said drug dealers seem to be getting the message that if they're pushing drugs, the police will pursue and catch them. Police have kept up a tireless effort this spring and summer to stem the drug flow by busting two or more drug houses or hotel rooms a week. Drug offences have more than doubled, with 622 offences reported in the first seven months of the year, compared with 279 through July last year, police statistics indicate. A police crackdown on low- and mid-level drug dealers is responsible for the increase. Cormack said the message is that drug dealing is unacceptable in Red Deer. Changes to Red Deer RCMP's drug squad last year account for the increased activity. The squad became a street team and increased to five members from four. The street squad has assumed a wider mandate that includes tackling drug-related crime such as property thefts that decreased eight per cent through July compared with last year. Meanwhile, two men facing charges of cocaine-trafficking and having money in excess of $5,000 from the proceeds of crime were denied bail in Red Deer provincial court on Thursday. Phonsamay Milavong and Phouthavong Khamkhay are being held in custody and are to return to court Sept. 14 to enter pleas. The two were charged following the execution of search warrants at their respective Red Deer homes, at 33 Lagrange Cres. and 56 Reichley St. on Tuesday. Both men face several charges of trafficking in cocaine, possessing cocaine for the purpose of trafficking and with having money obtained from the proceeds of crime. - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin