Yellowknife (Oct 08/03) - Friday night's massive police crackdown on drinking and drug abuse in the downtown core was met with cautious optimism by business owners in the area.

"There are lots of problems around here so it's a step in the right direction," said Loc Nguyen, who owns the Reddi Mart on the corner of 50 Street and 51 Avenue.

"But in order for it to be effective, the RCMP needs to keep it up for a month or two. If they don't, it will just go back to being the same."

Code named Operation Hydra, officers from the RCMP, the NWT Liquor Licensing Board and the NWT Department of Health and Social Services swept through downtown bars and alleyways, taking more than 35 people into custody.

Over 30 law enforcement officials --including 15 volunteer RCMP officers-- participated in the operation.

Police arrested two people for drug trafficking, one for possession of an illegal substance and threw 34 others into the drunk tank, while handing out a number of tickets for other liquor violations.

They also seized about 10 grams of crack-cocaine, drug paraphernalia, money, five flats of beer and several bottles of hard liquor.

Result of public consultation

The decision to go ahead with Operation Hydra was made after business owners and other citizens raised concerns about drinking and drug dealing in the downtown area, said RCMP Insp. Paul Richards.

"We realized that we needed to deliver concentrated enforcement, as part of our overall strategy to combat substance abuse in the city," said Richards.

Many people who work in the downtown area were happy to see the increased police presence. "Things have been pretty bad here for the last two years so I'm glad," said Chance Chivers, a supervisor at Subway who works the night shift. Richards said one of the goals of Operation Hydra was to discourage underage drinking, which many business owners say is a major problem in the downtown area.

"At night, there are all kinds of kids standing around outside my store, just waiting for adults to come and buy them alcohol," said Nguyen, whose Reddi Mart is just across the street from the liquor store.

"You try to get rid of them, but they turn around and (swear at) you."

"I'm glad the police came through and tried to put a stop to it."

The operation also netted the RCMP valuable information about the city's drug trade, said Richards.

"That will lead to further operations and investigations," Richards said.

Angela Fardella, a part owner of the Gold Range, was happy to hear police were cracking down on drug trafficking.

"The problem is appalling," said Fardella.

"You'll see drug dealers selling to kids as young as 12 or 13 in alleyways. People will come around the bar and looking for drugs.

"We kick everyone out who we know are drug dealers, but we can't deal with the problem by ourselves."

Will it last?

Some downtown business owners wondered if Operation Hydra would have a lasting effect.

Fardella said she saw a number of drug dealers who were arrested Friday night back in the bar Saturday.

"It's great that they were picked up, but some were back on the street the next day. And while they're out, they're selling again," Fardella said.

Loc Nguyen also noticed a one-night only decline in illegal activity.

"There were kids outside of my store (drinking) again Saturday," he said. "The key to fixing the problem will be keeping up the pressure."

Richards assured business owners that Friday night's crackdown was not a one-night only event.

"We'll keep doing things like this."