Emma Levez
Northern News Services

RAE-EDZO (Jul 13/98) - A crackdown on liquor violations in Rae-Edzo led to four convictions in recent weeks.

Still, police say there is much work to be done before the flow of liquor from Yellowknife can be brought under control.

On June 11 Rene Camsell was sentenced to four months in custody and received a $2,500 fine for illegally selling liquor last February.

On the same day, three other residents were convicted of transporting excess liquor in a restricted area. Sam Chocolate received a total of $1,000 in fines, Edzo Liske $300 and Marcel Lafferty $500.

The Rae-Edzo liquor restriction regulations, now almost two years old forbid possession, during any month, of more than one 750-mL bottle of spirits and one unit of liquor (either 24 beer, two 750-mL bottles of wine or 12 beer and one 750-mL bottle of wine.)

The restrictions came about due to a high rate of alcohol-related violence in Rae-Edzo. The new laws have done little to address the problem, however.

RCMP Sgt. Frank Foran said that, while police act on complaints, the extremely high workload facing officers makes it difficult to pursue the issue.

"If anything the flow of liquor has increased -- (the abuse of alcohol) is still rampant, people just find ways around us," Foran said.

Because the Rae-Edzo RCMP detachment cannot afford a highway patrol unit, Foran noted it remains fairly easy for traffickers to evade police.

"We need to find a way to control the flow of liquor ... right now we're just skimming the surface," admitted Foran.