LET THE BATTLE CONTINUE

Congratulations and compliments to the drug squad of our local police for
making the largest drug seizure in Medicine Hat police history.

For a month the squad worked all hours on the case and swooped in
overnight. With this action they kept 46 ounces of cocaine, 4,200 ecstasy
tablets and 25 pounds of marijuana off the streets of our city. This in
addition to other drug busts that have been made in the past must surely
make inroads into the drug trade. Also one person has been taken into
custody and at the time of publication another two may have been apprehended.

It is very disconcerting to learn there are such large quantities of drugs
in our city. A vote of thanks to the police for their unstinting work is in
order.

A few weeks ago an Australian mother had to travel to an Asian country to
claim the body of her young son who had been convicted and executed for
being in possession of marijuana. What a tragedy. And he was not the first
one to be executed for possession of drugs.

In some countries the death sentence is mandatory for being in possession
of drugs. This may seem very harsh but on the other hand it cannot be
denied that the effect of drugs on a community and the danger it holds for
young people who want to experiment with all things forbidden or are even
pressurized into using drugs, is devastating.

According to The News, Const. Klick said the trade in drugs will continue
because there will be others to take the place of those who have been taken
out with this bust. Nevertheless, this is a setback for the drug pushers.

So let the battle continue. It does give a large degree of protection to
our young people.

Riann Kriel is a member of the community editorial board.