Pubdate: Fri, 11 Jan 2008 Source: Telegraph-Journal (Saint John, CN NK) Copyright: 2008 Brunswick News Inc. Contact: http://telegraphjournal.canadaeast.com/onsite.php?page=contact Website: http://telegraphjournal.canadaeast.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2878 Author: Mary Ellen Saunders, Telegraph-Journal Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/coke.htm (Cocaine) RCMP SENDS MESSAGE TO DRUG DEALERS GRAND MANAN - The RCMP is cracking down on drug dealers on the island. "We are sending the message: Don't do it, it's not acceptable and if you do do it, you will go to jail," says Cpl. Andy Scott. Police arrested a suspected drug dealer on Tuesday following a surveillance operation. Scott said RCMP confiscated two small baggies of prepackaged weed and a cellular phone from the man after witnessing the deal. The man will appear in Grand Manan provincial court on March 20 to answer charges of trafficking marijuana and possession for the purpose of trafficking. Since coming to the island in August, Scott said his number one priority has been to catch drug dealers. The arrest this week was second time police have nabbed a suspected drug dealer since his arrival. On Nov. 23, Grand Manan RCMP arrested a man for trafficking cocaine in the North Head area. He is due in court this month. Scott said Mounties on the island have their eyes on about 10 suspected drug dealers, and there will be more arrests to come this year. "The public has been very helpful. They have been coming forward and I think they deserve a pat on the back just as much as any of us do," said Scott. He said it appears as if members of the public are beginning to trust the RCMP officers more and are coming forward with leads in hopes of ridding the island of its drug problem. "This is our number one priority," said Scott. "I have consulted with the mayor and council and we are on the same page. It's not our only priority but it's what the people of Grand Manan have identified to us through the mayor and council and we will continue to do our very best to target these people." Scott said island RCMP will also become more active in Coastal Watch, an RCMP program that aims to identify people that are using vehicles, boats and aircraft to smuggle goods, liquor, tobacco, drugs and people to and from the United States. The officer said it is an important program for the island RCMP to be involved with because there is a great potential for cross-border crimes to happen in the coastal marine community. - --- MAP posted-by: Steve Heath