In the first two months of the year, there were reportedly 87 incidents where Alberta RCMP seized fentanyl.
According to RCMP officials, this included roughly 1.4 kilograms of solid fentanyl and more than 600 tablets. Along with the drugs, in 36 of the cases weapons were seized along with the drugs, including knives, brass knuckles, rifles, shotguns, and 3D-printed gun parts. According to officials, the majority of seizures are in larger communities including Grande Prairie and Red Deer, but seizures have been made in 34 detachment areas across the province.
At the beginning of April, Alberta RCMP officials met with partners from across the province, which include other law enforcement agencies, health, and government, to discuss the use of opioids in Alberta. This meeting is part of the Alberta RCMP Crime Reduction Strategy, which focuses on using data and intelligence into actionable tasks centred around targeted prevention, apprehension, suppression and offender management.
Some of the external law enforcement organizations working with the provincial RCMP include ALERT, Canada Border Services Agency, Alberta Crown Prosecution Services, Alberta Sheriffs, Canada Post, Criminal Intelligence Service Alberta, Recovery Alberta, and the Government of Alberta, along with police services in both Calgary and Edmonton.
Officer in Charge of the Alberta RCMP Crime Reduction Strategy Superintendent Mike McCauley says the risk opioids bring to a community is not just a police problem, but the Alberta RCMP is committed to reducing that risk.
“Working with our partner agencies, we can develop a fulsome approach to address the underlying issues that lead to crime and the use of illegal fentanyl in our communities,” McCauley says.
The RCMP has established a new Community Response Team to help address the concerns. This support is reported to be a crime reduction team that will be able to quickly respond and address issues.
“Community Response Teams combine focused outreach with targeted enforcement to improve safety, reduce victimization and address social determinants contributing to the root causes of crime,” the release reads. “They work with frontline members and local partners in the community to address the driving causes of crime in a comprehensive, data-driven, and targeted approach.”
This team is expected to help reduce drug-related crimes in the province and also work to create support for wrap-around services and programs.
