Skip to content

The drug trade continues in Red Deer, despite pandemic measures, says RCMP

It’s now easier to spot suspicious activities, however
21342203_web1_fentanyl
There’s no sign that the drug trade is declining in Red Deer. (Black Press file photo).

Drug trafficking isn’t slowing down in Red Deer, even though fewer vehicles are now travelling on Highway 2.

Insp. Mark Groves, of the Red Deer RCMP, said the detachment is getting the same number of tips from the public about the drug trade — indicating distributors are still able to get their illegal products into the city through various means.

If they feel too conspicuous using Highway 2 while travel between Calgary and Edmonton is being discouraged during the pandemic, they will use back roads, he added.

“We’ve seen it all… They’ll send it through other shipments or through the mail. They’ll use buses, or couriers or delivery vehicles — or mules will run it in…”

Groves said the biggest advantage police have during this period of social isolating is that unusual activities become more obvious to spot.

As car and truck traffic throughout the city has decreased, police have upped their presence in industrial areas, where businesses have been temporarily shut down.

Groves said the RCMP is also partnering with private security companies to watch for unusual activities.

Police analysts are also examining data showing when and where crimes happen during the week, so that officers can be in those areas at those times. And the movements of “chronic criminals” are being traced.

As well, he said more security presentations are now being made to the public, showing how to make properties less appealing to criminals.

Groves believes this is contributing to a general reduction in public calls for police service.

Although drug trafficking appears to be status quo in these early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, he said at least it doesn’t seem to be getting worse.

“With 20 per cent of Albertans being without jobs, we thought we might see an increase in drug use,” added Groves, who urges members of the public to keep watching for criminal activities in their neighbourhood.

Groves said most people are socially isolating at home, so it will be more obvious when different customers are coming and going from a drug house.

He encourages reporting suspicious activities to Central Alberta Crimestoppers (1-800-222-TIPS) or the Red Deer detachment.