By DAVE TAYLOR THREE RECENT raids here netting nearly $200,000 in pot are just the tip an iceberg of drugs available in the city, say police. But the pushers’ easy ride nay be coming to an end now that another drug enforcement officer is on the way, “We haven’t even scratched the sur- face,’ says Corporal Anders Udsen of Terrace RCMP’s plain clothes section which assists the detachment’s only drug officer. “There’s lots of marihuana, but there's ; also lots of cocaine and its derivatives. The only thing we don't have a lot of here is heroin.” Udsen says Terrace’s drug scene has RCMP here simply didn’t have the man- power lo make many big busts. “It’s been pretty freewheeling for a while,’ he says. ‘Growers and dealers have had it fairly easy and they’ve taken advantage of that.”’ But with Monday’s nod from Terrace city council to bring ina second drug en- forcement officer, Udsen says drug dealers are really going to have to be on thelr toes.” “You're going to see some changes,” he says. “We've got lots to do, Lots and lots,"’ Terrace Mounties have already been busy this year. Two weeks ago they raided a dope growing operation on the bench and seized a whopping $90,000 worth of marihuana. Police found some 75 pot plants in the Orme Road residence thriving in a fairly sophisticated hydroponics growing aper- ation The RCMP also seized 108 sinaller plants and all the paraphernalia associa- ted with cultivating maribuana, Police say the setup of the operation made it possible for the growers to get about four harvests every year [rom their dope farm. The seized plauts were al- most ready for harvesting. A secand big bust occurred last week, when police raided an apartment on Lazelle Avenue. A search of the residence uncovered some two kilograms of marihuana, with an estimated street value of $25,000. The third bust occurred last Thursday, The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, March 12, 1997 - Ai1 when police scarcled a house on Merk- ley Road and found about six kilograms of marihuana. The cops arrested a 52-year-old Ter- race man and expect further arrests, since the seized dope is believed to be part of recently-harvested indoor grow- ing operation. Udsen says Terrace will never be com- pletely cleaned up, but a concerted effort by the city's expanded drug enforcement ~ unit will bring narcotic trafficking in the city down to a more manageable level, “We waut lo get the recreational users out of the equation.” Udsen says, “Make it harder for them to find drugs. That will eliminate a fot purchasing power and hopefully deter all the amateur dealers and growers who get in olice pursue more drug busts itfo make a quick buck.”’ Dealers are already feeling the pinch. Last year there were about 116 drug busts in Terrace. This year there have al- ready been 34, and Udsen says that's just the beginning. **Throw an extra body into the equa- lion and you double the impact,”’ he says, “‘Al this pace we're looking at something in the neigbourhood of 200 arrests this year.” Udsen also says the increased man- power could lead to more educational projects in Terrace schools. “Thal’s something we'd really like to see happen,’’ he says, ‘‘The reality is that a substantial number of buyers are in the schools,’’ had it easy for too long because the stalking push praised by local victim advocate ATTORNEY- GENERAL Ujjal Dosanjh is urging the federal govern- ment to raise the maximum sentence for stalking to 10 years in jail from the current five. And that is great news to Terrace stalking victim Tammy Fee. “It pays to speak out,’ says Fee who now works with a victims’ support % group called CAVEAT B.C. §f Fee, a victim of a stalker [ERR now in jail, has been very —_. vocal in her efforts io try Tammy Fee and get more justice for victims of violent crimes, particu- larly stalking, and longer sentences for offenders, She was one of the featured spcakers Monday at an anti- violence rally here in Terrace organized by CAVEAT B.C. and Reform MP Mike Scott. Dosanjh has written to federal justice minister Allan ; Rock saying the current penalties are seriously inadequate i for slalking crimes. : He met with Canada’s other provincial justice ministers two weeks ago to gather support for his stance, Dosanjh said BC wants the new maximum penalty for sentence for crimes such a sexual assault, assault with a weapou and assault causing bodily harm. { signal on how seriously we view! thiBidithe.”’ The lengthier sentence would alsa’ allow Crown prose- cutors to apply io the courts to have the highest risk violators of the stalking law declared dangerous offenders. Dangerous offenders can be sentenced to indefinite jail tenus. “That’s what I’ve been hoping for,’' said Fee. Fee hails the attorney general's attempt, saying it will help put justice back iu the justice system for victims. “Tt shows there’s a difference between crimes of vioience and crimes of property,” she says. If sentences are increased, Fee says it wil] protect society, as well as victims. , The move by the attorney-general follows on the heels of another announcement. The BC parole board recently became the first in the country to grant victims or their representatives the right to make verbal impact statements during parole hearings. Fonnerly the victims could only submit a written state- ment and attend the parole bearing as observers. Ric White, Fee’s atlacker, was sentenced ta two years, plus three years probation. Since his incarceration he’s been classified as a high risk offender. That’s because other alleged victims have written to the national parole board about White. Fee won't be able to speak at White’s parole hearing, when it comes up this May, because it’s through the na- tional parole board. But she’s hoping that soon victims will be able to speak out there, too. Fee wants to open a CAVEAT branch office in Terrace, aud start up a support group far viclims of violence. Fee says there’s presently nothing for victims in Terrace, and since she’s started speaking about her experiences she’s has many calls for help. Police Beat Drunk young drivers « POLICE WERE called to Caledonia high school Fri- day, February 28 at about 8:30 p.m. when two youths in one car smashed into two other vehicles in the school’s parking lot. Police say both the driver and passenger of the car were very drunk at the tine, The two other vehicles were not occupied. The names of the two youths are protected under the Young Offenders Act, Police say the investigation is continuing. Burglars nabbed TWO TERRACE incn and one man from Prince George have been arrested in connection with two break-ins at Fountain Tire. One break-in occurred in late November of last year. The other was on January 31 of this year. About $5,000 in stolen property has been recovered, The nen are to be In Terrace court March 28. Truck and machine taken POLICE ARE asking for the public’s assistance in finding a pickup and snowmobile stolen from the owner’s driveway last week. The blue and white 1988 GMC pickup and 1990 Polaris snowmobile were taken sometime during’ the evening of March 1. stalking or criminal harassment to match the maximum “The heavier maximum for stalking will send a clear British Columbia and Yukon ASsocraTioN These ads appear in approximately 100 community newspapers in B.C.and Yukon and reach more than 3 million readers. $29 for 25 words $ 6.00 aach additional word To place an ad call this paper or the BCY- GNA at (604) 669-9222 AUCTIONS BUSINESS BUSINESS CAREER EDUCATION UNRESERVED TRUCK OPPORTUNITIES OPPORTUNITIES OPPORTUNITY BE