Derek Neary
Northern News Services

Fort Liard (Feb 15/02) - Six individuals were found with contraband during a surprise inspection of two gas camps Feb. 6.

Beaver Enterprises orchestrated the searches, hiring a dog handler and his drug-sniffing dog from Calgary to scour the Beaver base camp and a Western Geco camp.

One Beaver employee was removed from a camp site and his employment terminated after he was reportedly found to have drug paraphernalia, according to Shane Parrish, CEO of the Acho Dene Koe Corporate Group. Another employee, working for a seismic company, was allegedly in possession of marijuana and was also removed from the camp.

"We had heard some rumours that there was rampant drug and alcohol abuse out there ... we have policies, we've got to find out whether or not they're working," Parrish said. "It clearly states in our policies that we have the right to search our camp."

Four other individuals at the Beaver base camp were caught with alcohol, which violates camp regulations. The liquor was seized and the workers were reported to the seismic company, their direct employer.

Seismic companies Western Geco and Veritas supported the inspection, although they do not use drug-sniffing dogs in practice, opting to test employees' urine instead, according to Parrish.

Overall, after checking 140 beds, Parrish said he was pleased with the limited contraband uncovered.

"Our concern is that (employees have) to be fit for work. We have no tolerance for the use of these substances on the work site," he said. "The guys have got a lot to be proud of ... we came out pretty squeaky there."

Parrish said Beaver may use the same approach again in the future, if necessary.

The RCMP were not involved in last Wednesday's inspections.

"We weren't out there to arrest people or anything," Parrish said. "It wasn't a police act ... we just wanted to remove those substances."