Targeted enforcement operation takes drugs off city streets
By Alejandra Pulido-Guzman - Lethbridge Herald on May 31, 2024.
LETHBRIDGE HERALDapulido@lethbridgeherald.com
The Lethbridge Police Service recently removed a significant amount of methamphetamine and fentanyl from the streets of downtown, including large chunks of orange fentanyl.
Police say more than 450 doses of methamphetamine and fentanyl have been taken off the street as part of a targeted enforcement operation involving a combination of uniform and covert officers actively targeting offenders engaged in criminal activity and other negative behaviours in the city centre.
Sgt. Ryan Darroch, in charge of the Downtown Policing Unit (DPU) told the Herald during a phone interview this week that it is very important for LPS to continue tackling the issues surrounding the downtown core, especially those involving the dealing of drugs.
“We recently had several deaths involving orange fentanyl, so it was a good file to have someone arrested who was trafficking, that’s for sure,” said Darroch.
Last Friday members of the DPU, Crime Suppression Team, Property Crimes Unit and Community Peace Officers, executed 22 outstanding warrants resulting in the arrest of 11 people, charged three males with possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking and seized smaller quantities of drugs for destruction from 17 people.
“If we had the resources, that would be a normal occurrence, but that day was a busy day for us for sure.”
Darroch says the ongoing enforcement project runs on random days throughout the month, when they are able to properly resource it.
“We continue to see great results in the form of outstanding warrants executed, as well as taking people off the streets that are involved in the sale of drugs that are killing our downtown population,” said Darroch.
He explained that the project has been incredibly successful since its inception. When he started the project, Darroch said he could already see the behaviour change throughout the downtown core of those people involved in crime, within the same day.
“The project will be an ongoing thing and we will continue to try our hardest to make sure the community is safe,” said Darroch.
Police remind the public to continue reporting all suspicious and criminal activity happening in downtown, or anywhere in the city, by calling the LPS non-emergency line at 403-328-4444.
Some crimes can also be reported online, including theft under $5,000, mischief, theft from vehicles and damage to vehicles. There is also a category for ‘information only’ reports where citizens can report nuisance and non-criminal matters. Visit http://www.lethbridgepolice.ca and click online reporting.
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I applaud LPS for all the hard work in these operations which have involved many hours of surveillance and collection of information that many are not aware of.
It is time for the courts to get tough on these dealers who know full well that people are dying from their drugs, but continue to sell them. What is the difference between a drunk driver killing someone in a collision or these dealers killing people? A drunk driver receives much harsher penalties!
Dealers are killing these people so why should they get off with light sentences!
I watch the dealers/pimps in their vehicles who drive around all night making money off these people who for the most part are addicted because of the dealers, and more than once have watched them drive by someone in medical distress from overdosing, and do not stop to help them! They continued to drive by multiple times!
When in some conversations with these scumbags when they tried intimidate me while protecting my property, they say they are not dealing, they are just good samaritans helping the poor souls on the streets who are abused by society! They are abused, but by the dealers/pimps who use them as just another tool for revenue, without any concern for their well being!
They think we are all stupid and blind! We know who they are and what they are!
Many of these scumbags have been driving around on the streets pimping the girls and selling drugs for several years and have a lot of blood on their hands from all the girls who have died as well as other people and nothing would make me happier to see justice served on these vile people who think they own the streets!
It is time the courts and penal systems were revamped to deal with criminals, instead of allowing them to go into jail and do illegal drugs while incarcerated, in what is supposed to be a secure facility. No effort is made to stop this flow of drugs.
Until the current Trudeau government and the NDP who prop them, allowing them to continue to destroy our country are replaced . . . we will never see our judicial and penal systems fixed!
Trudeau wants us all stoned and stupid!
Keep up the great work LPS . . . most of us appreciate the hard work!