Pubdate: Tue, 11 Nov 2003
Source: Camrose Booster, The (CN AB)
Copyright: 2003 The Camrose Booster
Contact:  http://www.camrosebooster.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2438
Author: Tim Chamberlin, Communications Officer, Battle River School 
Division #31

COPS APPLY BRAKES TO METH RUNNERS

A concerted effort to reduce the distribution of crystal meth by the 
Camrose Police Service is making an impact.

"What we're very successful in is busting runners from Edmonton," said 
criminal investigation section member Sgt. Greg Corbett.

"They (runners) come down here and they stick out like a sore thumb. 
Usually these people have warrants so they're identified right away and 
they're getting caught."

Detective Lorne Blumhagen said a practice of running interference with 
major players has interrupted distribution to all the locals, and that the 
locals now have to rely on their own devices to access meth. That usually 
means a trip out of Camrose.

"They're buying in smaller quantities and for smaller groups. Now you don't 
have the large quantities coming in, filtering through the regulars and 
then down to the younger people. We haven't had nearly the involvement with 
the younger people, yet, and I think part of that's the education."

Although rumours abound, no major labs have been discovered in Camrose or area.

"We haven't cultivated the grounds for a search warrant in relation to any 
meth labs, however, there are lots of rumours out there," said Det. 
Blumhagen. "There were indications of people traveling through that had 
mobile labs. Those kinds of labs would be here today, gone tomorrow.

"The other thing with the lab is we're pretty confident if one was here for 
any period of time we would find out about it. With the types of labs 
people are running right now, any 15-year-old could make enough for 
personal use. I don't think it's the case." Detective Blumhagen and Sgt. 
Corbett also attribute the work of police patrols who are relaying critical 
street-level information to the criminal investigation section.

"They're making a huge impact."

The one area that police are staying focused on in relation to the meth 
front is frauds. Despite a decrease in most other crimes, frauds are on the 
increase.

"Some of the crimes where we're not seeing a decrease, and that can be 
attributed to speedier crimes, are the frauds and the break and enters. Our 
frauds are actually still up.

"That's attributed to groups working the telephones or coming through town 
on a very short basis. When they come through town, and we've picked off 
some of the groups, they're committing a dozen or two dozen crimes in a day.

"Within no time they'll go from store to store to store running their scam 
and then they're out of here."
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman