More arrests to be expected
Tara Kearsey
Northern News Services
Yellowknife (Mar 02/01) - Several individuals arrested during the RCMP's Operation Guiness drug bust have been sent to jail, but the problem of drug trafficking in Yellowknife is far from quashed.
"(The RCMP) probably didn't get the kingpins ... they're usually untouchable," said Cpt. Karen Hoeft of the Salvation Army.
Drugs are still out there for anyone who wants to purchase them, she said, and it's going to take a community-wide effort to turn things around.
RCMP Staff Sgt. Dave Grundy said four or five outstanding warrants for Operation Guiness suspects still exist. Those individuals reside outside of Yellowknife and have not been located by police.
To date, 15 individuals swept up by RCMP during Operation Guiness have be handed down sentences in Territorial and Supreme Court. Several charges have been dropped while many individuals are still awaiting court appearances.
Grundy acknowledged that drug traffickers are still around. Many different types of illicit drugs are available in Yellowknife -- a vast quantity of them, he said.
"We continue to investigate drug offences as we speak right now and we continue to lay charges against people that are involved in drugs and are profitting from drug sales or other illegal activity surrounding the drug trade."
He knows the problem of drug trafficking will not disappear, but said officers will do their best to keep the dealers off the streets.
"We certainly put a big dent into (drug trafficking) for that short period of time, but it's like everything else; when a void is created people fall into that void and take over.
"Drug trafficking is not going to go away and nor are we (the RCMP)."
Mayor Gord Van Tighem is pleased with Operation Guiness proceedings to date, given the fact that crime rates for November, December and January have dropped significantly since the Operation Guiness drug bust.
The RCMP meets with city council on a monthly basis to provide an update on crimes that have been reported to the detachment. Staff Sgt. Terry Scott said criminal matters reported to the RCMP dropped significantly just after the Operation Guiness drug bust.
"We were extremely busy up to the end of October and going into November and as soon as the Operation went down things just dropped. It got real quiet in a hurry."
Scott said many people don't have the money to support their drug habits so they resort to crime to keep their habit going.
"So crimes like robberies, break ins or thefts go down usually because there is no demand or supply (of drugs) or the people that we dealt with on the Operation were involved.
"Most crimes are committed because they need money for something and you will generally find it's not to live on."
Van Tighem feels the streets of Yellowknife are a little safer for the time being, but said the drug traffickers "will probably be replaced" by others.
Operation Guiness, the courts, schools, parents and rehabilitation and counselling programs are all pieces of the puzzle to be considered when attempting to alleviate the drug problem in Yellowknife, said Hoeft.
"If there's people who will buy it then we need to look for the whole solution."
"As we continue together to build the community, that's when I think we'll see the long-term healing," she said.
