Pubdate: Mon, 14 Aug 2006 Source: Vancouver 24hours (CN BC) Copyright: 2006 Canoe Inc Contact: http://vancouver.24hrs.ca/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3837 Author: Matt Kieltyka Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/coke.htm (Cocaine) DIALING FOR DOPE Dealers Find Fail-Safe Method To Deliver Drugs The make up of dial-a-dope operations is actually quite simple, but it's ruthlessly efficient. "It's just what it sounds like," said Vancouver police drug squad Det. Jim Fisher, "A telephone-marketing system that allows users to get drugs without going to the store." A former dial-a-doper using the alias Malachi walked 24 hours through a typical operation. "It all starts with the cellphone," he said. "As long as you have a pay-as-you go phone, something that you can't trace, and a connection to a distributor you're good to go." Equipped with the SIM cards in cellphones, dealers can easily switch their contact lists from phone-to-phone and hide their call history so no one knows what the phone is being used for. "Pay as you go phones have been very problematic since they came on the scene," admitted Fisher. "You can't really tell who is running the operations because you can't see or trace them." All dial-a-dope operations start with the distributor, or boss, who has access to the flow of drugs, mostly cocaine. In order for him to stay safe, he works solely out of a safe house, leaving cell-phone-armed drivers to make deliveries and find clients. "The distributor will be in constant touch with guys on the street making sure everything is going well, but he never puts himself out there," explained Malachi. A central distribution centre also helps protect the sellers on the street, who carry minimal amounts of drugs at any given time and can continually restock throughout the night, which results in minor possession charges should they get busted. Operations also constantly change their street vehicles to avoid detection, mainly by using rental cars. "No one uses stolen vehicles; it just draws attention to you," said Malachi. "The rentals are good because you can take one for a couple of days, run it into the ground and switch." Fisher said another popular choice is for drug dealers to constantly buy cheap $500 junkers. The fluid nature of dial-a-dopes makes for frustrating work for police. "If we do catch on to a group running a dial-a-dope, they change their numbers and switch up their entire operation overnight," said Fisher. It's that ability to operate secretly and adapt quickly that has allowed dial-a-dope operations to become a thriving, multi-million-dollar enterprise in every Lower Mainland community. Check out tomorrow's feature on how cops are combating the crime and how parents can find out if their kids are involved. - --- MAP posted-by: Steve Heath