KINDERSLEY RCMP DRUG UNIT SEES SUCCESS

Four Large Busts Achieved in Late March

Kindersley RCMP created a new unit in January to investigate the drug
trade that passes through town and it's already seeing success, the
detachment reported Tuesday.

Investigation by the new crime reduction unit -made up of one
dedicated constable -led to four big busts during a 10-day period at
the end of March.

"It's just something we're trying to address, the fact Kindersley is
on a main route between two major cities -Calgary and Saskatoon," said
Staff Sgt. Rob Embree. "Over the last couple of years, we've picked up
on some trends and we're trying to address some issues."

Kindersley is located on Highway 7, about 200 kilometres southwest of
Saskatoon and 400 km east of Calgary.

The role of the unit is to analyze crime trends, gather and analyze
intelligence and conduct investigations.

That analysis has already contrib-uted to the arrests of 10 people on
various charges.

On March 22, Kindersley RCMP stopped a vehicle on Highway 7 and found
a man concealing $8,000 cash on his person. Subsequent investigation
found the money wasn't obtained legally, said the RCMP. A 20-yearold
B.C. man and 21-year-old Saskatoon woman have been charged with
possession of proceeds of crime over $5,000.

Four days later, on March 26, Kindersley RCMP executed a search
warrant at a local motel and found cocaine, marijuana and a variety of
edged weapons. The street value of the drugs was about $2,500.

A 25-year-old Saskatoon man, 19-year-old Saskatoon woman and 26-year
old man from the Kindersley area were charged with possession of
cocaine for the purpose of trafficking, possession of marijuana and
possession of weapons.

Kindersley RCMP invited the Swift Current roving traffic unit to
conduct an enforcement campaign on March 29. A vehicle was stopped on
Highway 7 near the town of D'arcy. Three men from B.C. were arrested
and a search of the vehicle yielded 10 grams of ecstasy, 67 grams of
crack cocaine, 72 grams of powder cocaine, 4.2 lbs of marijuana, some
prohibited throwing knives and $6,680 in cash.

The three men aged 22, 22 and 29 were charged with possession for the
purpose of trafficking, possession of the proceeds of crime and
weapons offences.

On March 31, the Swift Current roving traffic unit stopped another
vehicle on Highway 7 near Kindersley and found 23.5 lbs of marijuana.

A man and woman from Calgary, both 38, were arrested and charged with
possession for the purpose of trafficking. Their next scheduled court
appearances are April 25 in Saskatoon.