Assistant Commissioner Bill Robinson, Commanding Officer RCMP D Division.
Last year the RCMP took down 53 marijuana grow operations of all sizes, seizing enough marijuana plants to just about cover a football field. The RCMP also made a total of 1,070 drug seizures across the province last year, in over 200 communities in Manitoba.
The most commonly seized drug was marijuana, followed by cocaine and other drugs including prescription and non-prescription pills and the ever-more pervasive ecstasy.
“Drugs are linked to violence and organized crime, which affects everybody in some way,” said Assistant Commissioner Bill Robinson. “We will persist in seeking out and disrupting drug trafficking in Manitoba, while getting the message out about just how harmful drugs are to families and communities.”
“I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the RCMP and policing organizations across the province for their work last year in locating and seizing drugs. The drug trade endangers public safety and fuels organized crime. By disrupting the drug trade, the RCMP and their partners are making our streets and communities safer.” said Minister Toews. “The Government stands firm in its ongoing commitment to tackling drug-related crime. We do not tolerate the production, trafficking or distribution of illegal drugs in this country.”
“Our government continues to value our strong partnership with the RCMP and is a strong supporter of their efforts to deal with the damage done by drugs in our communities,” said Minister Swan. “Far too often we’ve seen how drugs can destroy people’s lives and families, and how addictions drive other crimes and violence.”
That was clearly demonstrated in an address made by Lori Davis, whose son Chad was murdered in a drug-related incident in 2008 after he got mixed up in the drug world.
“Drugs killed our youngest son. It began with marijuana. And then my son got into selling drugs,” said Davis. “Drugs have taken away our beloved youngest son and left us with a heartache that will NEVER go away. Life as we knew it will NEVER be the same.”
Another often unseen aspect of the drug world is the connection to organized crime, which impacts all Manitobans, not only in urban centres but reaches into every community, regardless of size.
Whether it’s directly through loss of property through theft or through loss of life due to the violence and addictions linked to drugs, or indirectly through higher health and insurance costs, we all pay the price and feel the impact.
Manitobans can play a part in making their families and their communities safer. To report suspected drug activity in your community, contact your RCMP Detachment or local police service.
If you wish to remain anonymous, call Manitoba Crime Stoppers toll-free at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS).
