Pubdate: Fri, 18 Jun 2004 Source: Penticton Western (CN BC) Copyright: 2004 Penticton Western Contact: http://www.pentictonwesternnews.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1310 Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/coke.htm (Cocaine) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topics/grow+operations TIME TO DEAL WITH DRUG ISSUES IS NOW, MAYOR SAYS Penticton needs to take its head out of the sand when it comes to the city's growing drug problem, warned Mayor David Perry at a public meeting Wednesday. The city's new drug partnership initiative took centre stage during an early morning discussion at the Chamber of Commerce's Breakfast with the Mayor event at the Ramada Inn and Suites. Members of the public were invited to ask questions of the drug partnership committee, which includes the mayor and representatives of organizations ranging from social services sector to the hospitality industry. "Some of us tend to think that we're a small town out of the 1950s and when we hear about drug-related issues we know that the media's talking about Surrey-well that's not the case and we have to recognize that now," said Perry. "There's a significant transference (of drugs) from the Fraser Valley into the Okanagan Valley and that means we have to be vigilant as a community to deal with those kinds of things." RCMP inspector Dan Fudge said Penticton's 30 per cent increase in crime in the last 12-18 months is related to minor offences typically connected to persons needing money for drugs. Fudge said that since last September, three officers have been assigned to full-time drug enforcement. "It's no secret that we have a cocaine and crystal meth problem in Penticton," he said, adding that undercover operations have been successful to date, with two recent week-long operations resulting in the drug trafficking arrest of 16 people. Fudge also said the local RCMP detachment joined forces with Summerland RCMP and detachments to the south in February, conducting an operation looking for marijuana grow ops. The team seized more than 3,700 plants and 42 weapons - including two pistols - using 13 search warrants, he said. Perry said one of the two areas the drug partnership initiative is currently addressing is informing the public about marijuana grow operations - specifically how to notice this activity. A handout discussing the problems faced with grow ops was recently distributed with electric utility bills and is available at City Hall. The drug partnership committee is also working towards developing a variety of bylaws to help make Penticton less appealing for drug activity. The bylaw being dealt with currently puts responsibility on landlords in cases of electricity theft, said Perry. Another public meeting regarding the drug partnership initiative is in the works for an evening in September. - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin