Pubdate: Thu, 12 Jun 2003
Source: Westender (Vancouver, CN BC)
Copyright: 2003 WestEnder
Contact:  http://www.westender.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1243
Author: Justin Beddall

DEALERS TURNING BUTE INTO DRUG 'BOUTIQUE'

The VPD's drug dragnet through the streets of the Downtown Eastside has 
displaced pushers and addicts to the West End, according to 
Vancouver-Burrard MLA Lorne Mayencourt.

Drug dealing has become so brazen at the corner of Bute and Davie Streets 
that residents now refer to the intersection as the "Bute Street Boutique."

There's been an ongoing problem in the neighbourhood with crystal meth 
dealers but "now we're having a problem with crack dealers," Mayencourt 
told the WestEnder.

"There's been some displacement from the Downtown Eastside. Drug 
traffickers are going to other places."

Constituents have phoned the Liberal MLA saying they're fed up with the 
increasing number of sidewalk dealers. Seniors and young families have 
voiced the most concern, said Mayencourt. "Seniors are changing their plans 
to shop and walk in the neighbourhood because they don't feel safe."

One mother complained that she was concerned about her daughter attending 
Lord Robert Annex elementary school because of the growing number of 
pushers and hypes loitering around Nelson Park.

Although merchants seem reluctant to discuss the problem of drug peddling 
in the neighbourhood, one Bute Street business owner, speaking on the 
agreement of anonymity, said she applaud the recent police efforts to rid 
the area of drug dealers. "The presence of the police is helping a lot. 
It's been much better."

Vancouver police are apparently attempting to deal with the export of drugs 
and crime from the Downtown Eastside to other neighbourhoods. Last week, 
"Project Boomerang," a three-week undercover drug sting, resulted in 60 
drug-related charges laid against 42 individuals, most of whom worked the 
Granville mall area.

"We hope they don't come back," says Vancouver police Det. Dave Jones, 
commander of District 1, noting that the operation included undercover work 
in the Seymour-Georgia area.

Surprisingly, only 16 per cent the Granville strip dealers charged by 
police--32 men, 10 female, ranging in age from 16 to 68--hailed from the 
Downtown Eastside, which indicates that "displacement" has been minimal.

Jones, however, was surprised that many of the dealers were selling crack 
cocaine. "It appears that crack has hit the Granville mall in a big way," 
he explained.

Many dealers in the Granville mall area, once known as a mecca for meth, 
have switched to rock cocaine, a more expensive drug with a fleeting high. 
Jones speculates that the dealers have changed product for "pure profit."

Crystal meth costs around $5 and lasts between eight and 12 hours; an 
eight-dollar crack high lasts just 20 minutes.

The 800-block of Granville, however, was more active for the sale of pot.

Undercover cops witnessed a number of what Jones refers to as "drug 
tourists": buyers from the Downtown Eastside who traveled to the Granville 
mall strip to score drugs.

"Hopefully they have their return flights booked," he said.

Jones noted there was some evidence of drug-dealer migration to the 
Seymour-Georgia area.

The West End isn't the only community feeling the ripple effect of the 
policing efforts on the Downtown Eastside. Drug addicts from the area are 
also emigrating to tony West Vancouver. According to police there, drug 
addicts are riding bicycles or driving stolen cars over the Lions Gate 
Bridge to commit crime to feed their addictions.

"It's hard to attribute all the crime to that displacement (in the Downtown 
Eastside)," said West Van police Sgt. Bob Fontaine, "but we have witnessed 
an increase in the number of auto thefts and break-and-enters."

Although Mayencourt doesn't oppose the drug crackdown on the streets of the 
Downtown Eastside, he believes the police need to understand that the new 
enforcement model has forced drugs and associated crime to "ripple out to 
other communities we need resources to deal with enforcement issues here."

VPD Const. Sarah Bloor says police will remain vigilant to "make sure we 
don't have these people migrating to other areas."
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