EDMONTON – Edmonton police have arrested 40 people and laid 255 drug-trafficking related charges, following a seven-week undercover operation in the city’s downtown core.
The Edmonton Police Service (EPS) says the operation focused on a street level drug dealing network along 101 and 103 Street, between 103rd and 105 Avenues. During the seven weeks, close to 200 exchanges of cash for drugs were recorded within the few block radius, with the majority of it involving crack cocaine.
EPS spokesperson Clair Seyler says nearly half the suspects are women.
She adds this operation was similar to one conducted last summer, except there are about twice as many suspects involved in this case. In addition to the 40 people already arrested, warrants are still out for 20 others.
Of those who were apprehended, some were released with strict conditions. Seyler says a man and woman who were released on conditions of not returning to the area, were caught there about 10 hours later, with drugs on them. They have been taken back into custody.
If convicted, Seyler says the average time a suspect would serve in this situation is 18 months.
“It’s not going to get rid of them for good, but it disrupts the network for a while so it affects crime. Crime goes down when we put them in custody.”
Police hope the bust will help bring down violence in the area, as well as reduce robberies, assaults, and property crime, such as theft from vehicles.
Aside from making the community safer, police think the bust will help those struggling with drug addictions in the community.
“There’s a lot of people in the area that are vulnerable…who (drug dealers) prey on. They’ll get them hooked on drugs even though they have troubles already dealing with society, and so that’s the sad side of it…they’re trying to get help in the area, but they end up getting preyed upon by these drug dealers instead.”
“In addition to law-abiding citizens who live in the area, there are also shelters in place to provide assistance to anyone wanting to change their life or in need of help from various social agencies,” adds Downtown Division Acting Supt. Graham Hogg in a release. “It should be a safe place for families to live and for vulnerable people to access shelters without being exposed to predators.”
EPS continues to conduct operations targeting drug dealers as an ongoing effort to reduce violence and overall crime. Anyone who sees drug related or suspicious criminal activity is encouraged to contact EPS.
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