Reporter Jennifer Pritchett spent the last seven months investigating parts of Yellowknife's cocaine underworld, its affect on the city and some of the people who live here.
Relatively new to the North compared to other Canadian jurisdictions, the intoxicating white powder is no less destructive here, which could quite possibly be cocaine's last frontier. See next week's Yellowknifer for part 4 of the series. NNSL (June 13/97) - More Yellowknifers than ever are injecting and smoking cocaine. "We're seeing more heavy users -- the problem is becoming more noticeable," says Mike Brandford, head of the RCMP drug enforcement section.
A member of the plainclothes unit for most of the last seven years, Brandford has noticed a marked increase in the number of young people lured into the city's drug scene.
"The toughest thing is when we see some of these younger women, 15 or 16 years old," he said.
Fellow drug cop Lorne Adamitz said that cocaine is causing some serious problems in the city, including gang fights and teenage prostitution.
"I wouldn't call it like open prostitution on the streets," he said. "But young girls will be asked to perform sexual acts to get their drugs."
Deputy fire chief Mike Lowing said firemedics have also seen an increase in the number of people who are transported to hospital with cocaine-related medical problems such as suspected overdose and heart palpitations.
"We've definitely seen an increase over the last four or five years," he said.
But while police and fire officials see the damage the drug is causing on city streets, Adamitz says the cocaine isn't coming into the city in staggering amounts.
Still, a little cocaine can lead to a lot of trouble.
"It's not like Edmonton or Vancouver -- an ounce in Yellowknife can have the same impact as a kilo in Edmonton," he said.
But that ounce is harder to track and seize than the kilogram in Edmonton or Vancouver. Essentially, the smaller the amount, the easier it is to smuggle.
"It's coming in any way you can imagine," he said.
The plainclothes drug cops are in the business of going after those who control the trade -- and that, they say, is what takes time.
"The upper-level people have insulated themselves so they are less visible," said Adamitz. "You can still be involved in the drug trade without having to touch any dope."
Not enough manpower
While most police officers agree that cocaine is one of Yellowknife's more serious problems, a mere three of the 100 or so officers in the capital have been assigned to getting drugs off the streets.
On the other hand, few cities of similar size down south would have a three-member drug enforcement section, said Brandford.
While 95 per cent of the section's time is spent tracking the drugs that make it into Yellowknife, the mandate of the three-member team is to target mid- to upper-level trafficking.
However, even the officers who patrol the streets question the way the RCMP budget is structured. Several officers -- all of whom agreed to speak only the condition their names not be used -- have questioned the new $8.5-million addition to headquarters, which is being built while they are so understaffed on the street.
"It's a waste of money," said one officer.
The extra space will be used by desk officers -- those not on the street but involved in the administration.
Despite the obstacles, Brandford said drug seizures have increased in the last two years and now average about one bust every two weeks.
This number can increase if the public would take more of a role in giving the police tips.
"Drugs is a community problem, not a policing problem," he said. "It's awfully tough to get the job done without the assistance of the public."
A recent raid into a School Draw Avenue home was prompted by a public outcry about the goings-on at the residence, where a large amount of stolen property was seized.
"The police is only as good as the public wants us to be," added Brandford.
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