4 ~ Friday, July 22, 198% - North Shore News

Crimestoppers score
big in drug busts

APPROXIMATELY $1 million
worth of iflegal drugs have been
netted by the Greater Vancouver
Crimestoppers Unit during the first
half of 1988,

The dollar figure represents a
300 per cent increase aver last
year's recovery rate.

Said unit coordinator Spt. Bill
Harkema: “The street value of
these drugs seized — mainly co-
caine and marijuana -— may be
double or more the wholesale fig-
ure that we use,"

The unit: has also solved 120
more cases in the first six months
of this year than during all of
1987. Suid Harkena of the suc-
cess: “it signals the program is
recognized in the community and
is reaching maturity.”

The $929,000 in drugs seized,
compared to $305,000 worth of
drug seizures to the end of June
1987, is being read as an indication
of the increasing effectiveness of
the Crimestoppers information
gathering process.

“The increase in drug seizures
by Crimestoppers has been a com-
bination of good profiles on drug
operations, good police work by
RCMP and city drug squads in ac-
ting on information, and publicity
generated by the press,’’ Harkema
said.

But the program’s success has
meant money is draining faster
from the Crimestoppers reward
fund. To the end of August of last
year, Crimestoppers paid out
$14,000 to tipsters. But rewards

totalling $20,000 have been issued
from January to June of this year
already.

Harkema said donations are still
needed. ‘Over the summer, many
individual and business donors
who are busy with vacation plans
may forget that we still need those
dollars coming in." The fund
stands at approximately $70,000,
The program: would like to see the
fund, which has dipped to as low
as $20,000, maintained above
$50,000.

Contributions may be sent to
Greater Vancouver Crimestoppers,
1240) Homer Street, Vancouver,
B.C. V6B 2Y5.

Victor Mitchell
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