Pubdate: Wed, 24 Nov 2010
Source: Prince George Free Press (CN BC)
Copyright: 2010 BC Newspaper Group
Contact:  http://www.pgfreepress.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2135

POLICE HAVE BEEN BUSY

It's been almost a month since the Gang Crime Summit in Prince George. Has 
anything come of it? Are we going to see a concerted effort from the 
community to combat the gang problem in Prince George? The RCMP say a 
report stemming from the summit will be soon be available to the public, 
and will be presented to council for continued community action.

One of the questions that has been asked around coffee-shops is "what are 
the police doing about organized crime?"

This week they let us know.

 From January 2010 to November 2010 Prince George RCMP have attended more 
than 40 residences in relation to marijuana grow operations. Police have 
executed over 20 search warrants on properties that were involved in the 
cultivation of marijuana. As a result of these investigations, police have 
seized more than 50,000 marijuana plants with a street value of 
approximately $35 million.

Prince George RCMP have carried out more than 200 drug-related 
investigations that have all been linked to organized crime.

These investigations include street checks of individuals, vehicle stops 
and the execution of search warrants at residences that were known as 
"crack shacks," also being run by organized crime groups.

As a result of these raids, police have seized over 740 tabs of Ecstasy 
(street value of $7,400), more than 2,000 grams of cocaine, including 
crack, (street value of over $200,000) and over 1,072 grams of 
methamphetamine (street value of over $85,000).

In addition to the vast amount of drugs seized, RCMP have also seized more 
than $270,000 in cash from individuals involved in organized crime this year.

Police have removed approximately 30 firearms off our streets, which were 
either located at a marijuana grow operation, at a crack shack, or seized 
from an individual known to be involved with a gang.

They've been busy.

But they can't do it alone. If there was anything to come out of the Gang 
Crime Summit, it was that it will take a community effort to combat the 
gangs in Prince George.

The police have been busy. Have you? 
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D