Pubdate: Thu, 16 Aug 2007 Source: Winnipeg Sun (CN MB) Copyright: 2007 Canoe Limited Partnership Contact: http://www.winnipegsun.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/503 Author: Julie Horbal, Sun Media RESIDENTS LAUD DRUG BUSTS Residents of a crime-afflicted North End neighbourhood say they already feel safer after cops raided eight houses and arrested 20 people in a three-day drug and firearms sweep last week. Staff Sgt. Bud Guest, of the Winnipeg police street crimes unit, said officers from his unit, along with members of the morals unit, green team and the heavily armed emergency response unit, carried out Project SCAT between Aug. 8-10, cleaning out seven drug hubs and completely shutting another down. Searches of the homes on Manitoba, Selkirk, Boyd, Aberdeen, and Flora Avenues, as well as Dorothy Street, turned out more than $22,000 in crack cocaine and marijuana, a sawed-off shotgun, a .22-calibre rifle and a small amount of cash, Guest said. A 1997 Chevy Malibu, believed to be involved in drug-running, was also seized. Guest said the raids were not in direct response to -- but were definitely products of -- the recent drug-related gun violence in the area. Despite cops' success, Guest said officers realize three days is not enough and promised more drug houses will be cleaned out in the coming months. 'Reluctance' That's music to the ears of Meranva Merlin, co-chair of a community-based patrol group that's seen few problems on streets since last weekend. "The residents we have taking a stand and the police that have been around have created a greater reluctance for criminals," she said. The 20 arrested were charged with numerous drug, firearm, and parole violation charges. A 46-year-old man not involved in any of the warrants was also arrested after confronting officers during the Dorothy Street raid. He is charged with two counts of assaulting a peace officer, two counts of assault with a weapon and obstructing a peace officer. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman