Pubdate: Fri, 01 Oct 2004
Source: Edmonton Sun (CN AB)
Copyright: 2004, Canoe Limited Partnership.
Contact:  http://www.canoe.com/NewsStand/EdmontonSun/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/135
Author: Ajay Bhardwaj, Edmonton Sun
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/coke.htm (Cocaine)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mdma.htm (Ecstasy)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)

THREE CITY SOLDIERS IN DRUG STING

A retired former Canadian general is "disappointed" but not surprised after 
three Edmonton-based soldiers were arrested following a four-month 
undercover drug-trafficking sting. "It's regrettable (but) we don't recruit 
choirboys and we train them to do nasty work," said retired major-general 
Lewis MacKenzie.

"As happens in the police force, the military or, dare I say, even the 
church, people get involved where there's a profit to be made. I'm 
disappointed, but that's society."

The soldiers were busted Tuesday and Wednesday. Military prosecutors have 
yet to lay charges.

All the arrests were made off garrison property by Edmonton cops, said 
Capt. Mark Giles of the Canadian Forces National Investigation Service, 
which began the sting in November after getting information about possible 
trafficking.

"The Canadian Forces wants to send a clear message to the few members 
engaged in drug activity that it's unacceptable, illegal and detrimental to 
their duties," said Giles.

The arrests were made under Section 130 of the National Defence Act and 
pursuant to Section 5(1) of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act.

The NIS, which recently created a nationwide squad to conduct drug 
investigations, said the arrests were made in connection with trafficking 
in ecstasy, marijuana, cocaine and methamphetamine.

"The investigation continues in relation to a few others where there's drug 
usage," said Giles.

Military prosecutors will decide whether to lay charges, he added. Charges 
would be made public in two to three weeks.

Giles said drug use in the military isn't rampant.

"One case is one case too many," he said.

The last military drug bust was at Canadian Forces Gagetown, N.B., in 2003, 
when two soldiers were busted.
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MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager