Pubdate: Fri, 20 Jul 2007 Source: Kamloops This Week (CN BC) Copyright: 2007 Kamloops This Week Contact: http://www.kamloopsthisweek.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1271 Author: Cassidy Olivier COPS NAB DEALERS IN 'RED ZONES' The general manager of the Kamloops Central Business Improvement Association (KCBIA) said she is pleased with the RCMP's latest crackdown on drug dealers and believes it will improve the general atmosphere of the city's downtown core. Speaking on the heels of a Wednesday announcement by Kamloops police detailing the results of a two-week undercover operation targeting street-dealers, Gay Pooler said the operation is the kind needed to keep downtown drug dealers feeling uncomfortable and "in jail where they belong." "They've been pretty visible," she said of the dealers. "It was time something was done about it and the police have been really good about dealing with our complaints." A total of 42 trafficking charges are expected to be laid against 38 people (25 male, 12 female) resulting from the sting -- six of which were known prostitutes. The sweep, known as Project E-Passarine, was focused on the North and South Shore red zones with undercover officers buying crack cocaine from dealers, most of whom were "well-known" to police. The deals involved quantities ranging from one to 3.5 grams. Nineteen of the dealers identified were working in the downtown red zone area while the remaining 11 sold drugs to undercovers in the North Shore red zone. One of the women who sold crack to an officer had previously been arrested as part of last month's roust on sex trade workers. Inspector Yves Lacasse said Wednesday morning police had already begun making arrests, with at least two of the 38 already in custody and several more expected to be behind bars by the end of the day. He said he didn't think it would take long for all of the dealers to be picked up and expected the arrests to be low-risk in nature. "We know who we want to get right now and we are going to be out there," he said, adding no weapons had been seized during the first two arrests. The second part of an enforcement mandate created this spring that identified drugs and prostitution as the main focus of the detachment for the summer, Lacasse said Project E-Passarine was an extension of last month's two-day shake-down on the sex trade that saw police arrest and charge 17 of the city's prostitutes working within the two red zones. Contrary to popular belief, he said the red zones were not designed exclusively for the sex trade. Instead, they were created for all crime in the area. He said there was extensive consultation between the RCMP and various community groups prior to creating the two red zones, which effectively work as no-go areas for repeat offenders. A red zone designation has to come through the courts. "This is going to hopefully clear up these areas and hopefully restore . . these neighbourhoods," said Lacasse of the operation. "I think you are going to start feeling the impact of this within the next couple of days." Peter Mutrie, general manager of the North Shore Business Improvement Association, called the sting a positive move by Kamloops police. "I'm very pleased with the RCMP's efforts here," he said, adding many North Shore merchants reported a marked improvement in the area's atmosphere following the crackdown on prostitutes. "I think it is positive -- it is positive for our whole city and it means that Kamloops is wide awake." - --- MAP posted-by: Derek