Pubdate: Sun, 02 Feb 2014 Source: Newcastle Herald (Australia) Copyright: 2014 Fairfax Media. Contact: http://www.theherald.com.au/content/forms/50 Website: http://www.theherald.com.au/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/302 Author: Ashleigh Gleeson DRUG SNIFFING DOGS ON THE STREET A "SIGNIFICANT" drug dog operation was carried out in Newcastle CBD on Saturday night to crack down on and discourage street-level drug dealing. Twelve venues were searched from 11pm to 2.30am with a drug detection dog brought in from Sydney. Newcastle City Chief Inspector Dean Olsen said three people were found with small quantities of pills believed to be ecstasy. "There were three drug seizures which were small quantities of pills," he said. "This is part of an initiative addressing potential problems in the city it's not just alcohol we're targeting. "With drug dog operations, and I've run a lot of them in Sydney, you don't get very large numbers (of detections) because it is a cumbersome approach. "So the numbers are not indicative of a problem or lack of a problem in the city. "We know that drug use exists in Newcastle CBD. "The intent of the operation is to target street level drug dealing and to discourage the use of drugs among young people. "It's a worry that kids could be getting caught up in this drug use culture." Inspector Olsen said 20 officers were involved in the operation. "Last night was actually a pretty significant operation and it ran quite well," he said. "The public were very compliant and the venues were generally co-operative." Inspector Olsen said this was the second time in a fortnight they had had success with a drug dog search in the city area. Several people were also issued with notices for failing to quit licensed premises or offensive behaviour in the CBD on Saturday night, Inspector Olsen said. - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D