Drug Enforcement Unit

Drug Enforcement Unit

 

The Drug Enforcement Unit has various investigative functions, ranging from criminal code activities such as frauds, sexual assaults, thefts, and break and enters, to all levels of illegal drug offenses under the Controlled Drug and Substances Act. Many hours are spent collecting and verifying information received from the public in regards to illegal drug and criminal activities in the community, which assist this section in the apprehension of suspects engaged in criminal activities.

The Truro Police Drug Enforcement Unit has a good working relationship with the surrounding municipal police services as well as the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, often working together on the law enforcement of illegal activities in the community.

The enforcement of controlled drugs and substances and criminal code laws are continuously changing. This is primarily due to the fact that the courts hand down decisions which effect the laws of search and seizure, and that criminals and drug dealers become better aware of more sophisticated ways of carrying out illegal acts. Officers in the Truro Drug Enforcement Unit are involved continuously in adapting and overcoming challenges and obstacles in the fight to maintain a drug free environment for the citizens of Truro. The officers of the Drug Enforcement Unit encourage the citizens of Truro and surrounding area to join with them in the fight against those who attempt to poison our youth with drugs. We openly invite participation in our web site, and hope that everyone will gain useful information from the data that it contains. Please feel free to comment on the contents of the site, or provide information that you feel would benefit or assist us. Replies may be sent to us by e-mail.

DRUG IDENTIFICATION:

NARCOTICS, DEPRESSANTS, STIMULANTS, HALLUCINOGENS, CANNABIS.

NARCOTICS: these drugs are derived from opium and synthetic substitutes. Narcotics put the user in a state of euphoria and are very addictive physically and psychologically. (heroin, codeine and paregoric).

DEPRESSANTS: slow down and depress the central nervous system. They are prescribed as sedatives, tranquillizers, and barbiturates to combat insomnia, calm jittery nerves, and relieve anxiety (alcohol).

STIMULANTS: referred to as "uppers" are taken to relieve fatigue, increase alertness, or depress appetite (cocaine, crack, caffeine, nicotine, and amphetamines).

HALLUCINOGENS: are natural and synthetic substances that distort perception and produce disoriented and enhanced sensory experiences of color, sound and motion (LSD, PCP (angel dust), mescaline).

CannabisCANNABIS: or marijuana is the most frequently used and abused illegal drug. Hashish and hashish oil are other forms of cannabis. Marijuana was once thought to be harmless but is now recognized as a dangerous "gateway drug" that opens the way to the abuse of harder drugs.

Within the Truro area certain controlled drugs and substances are predominant in use. The most commonly confiscated substances within the town of Truro are:

Drug Profile: Cocaine

Drug:

cocaine hydrochloride (coke, flake, snow, dust, blow, freebase, and c are a few of the street names) a drug that is extracted from the leaves of the coca plant of South America. Cocaine is a white crystalline power which is sometimes "cut" or diluted with other substances such as sugar and is one of the most highly potent brain stimulants. Cocaine is usually sniffed or snorted through a tube-like device or straw off a smooth surface such as glass or a mirror. It is often divided into small lines with the use of a razor blade.

Other forms are:

Crack cocaine (rock, crack) is an inexpensive, purified form of cocaine, which is produced in to tiny chips or chunks. Crack is smoked by inhaling the vapors that are given of when drug is heated. The effect of the drug is felt in about 10 seconds and last approximately 10-15 minutes and is extremely addictive both physically and psychologically. Certain people have shown signs of addiction after a single use.

Freebase:

This is done by heating the pure cocaine and separating it from its salt base. Mixing and smoking powered cocaine with ether and sodium bicarbonate is called "freebasing." The high is short and is followed by severe low or "crash" making the person want to smoke or snort cocaine again to maintain the desired affect. '

Effects of cocaine:

increased heart rate and blood pressure, increased risk of heart failure or burst blood vessels, dilation of pupils, reduced appetite, increased energy and postponement of fatigue, increased alertness, shot lived sensation of euphoria.

Long term effects:

The Long term effects are very strong dependence, possible hallucinations, restless, agitated, tremors, insomnia and infections due to injections - hepatitis, blood poisoning and aids.

 

Any information you feel would assist us in combating the fight against drugs and the criminal elements in the Truro area or for any information please contact us by E-mail or our phone numbers which are listed above. It is your help that will help us make our community a safe and better place for bringing up our children.

 

For further information on drugs and their effects, please click here.