Drug trafficking files in the City of Courtenay are down according to RCMP, however, concerns about safe supply are being voiced by city staff.
Second quarter results between July 1 and Sept. 30 presented to council showed overall there were two more files in 2022 than in 2021. However, compared to 2020 there were 23 fewer files for drug trafficking for year to date. Compared to 2019, drug trafficking files were down by one for the month of September, and down by 32 files year to date.
Insp. Mike Kurvers of Comox Valley RCMP says the drop since 2019 is attributed to arrests and other methods of crime reduction.
Kurvers says officers try to deal with drug issues at a street level first, before continuing to larger operations.
“We try and work that through so if we have a project and we see handoffs and transactions, we try and action that right away so we have some quick responses to the drug issue,” said Kurvers.
“If we bear some good information or evidence from that, we can notch it up to make a project out of it and work the medium-level drug dealer in the community.
“The targeting is of the drug trafficker, not of the end user.”
Kurvers adds a lot of lines that are coming in are from out of town.
With the results presented, councillor Wendy Morin raised concerns about safe supplies in the area and potential damage from a loss of supply.
“In lieu of getting a substance that’s clean and safe, it does create a potential issue as well with those lower-level folks,” said Morin. “I’m thinking of the people who are struggling with their own addiction, not talking about those that come in with their Mercedes and drop off supply.”
Courtenay overall saw more calls for service than any other municipality in the Comox Valley, according to the RCMP report.
Calls for traffic decreased in 2022 compared to 2021, and impaired driver files also dropped, according to Kurvers.
Break and enters dropped, but Kurvers says it is still significant in the city and vehicle theft is higher in Courtenay than in other municipalities.
