Home / Crime and Justice / RCMP Launch 2-Month Drug Use Blitz in Moncton
RCMP Launch 2-Month Drug Use Blitz in Moncton
18 Aug
Summary
- Codiac RCMP to conduct a two-month blitz targeting open-air drug use.
- The operation will involve plainclothes and uniformed officers in downtown Moncton.
- Data from the blitz may inform future budget discussions for the RCMP.
The Codiac Regional RCMP has announced a two-month blitz targeting open-air drug use, commencing this week and concluding in October. Superintendent Benoit Jolette stated the operation will deploy uniformed and plainclothes officers in areas including downtown Moncton, Dieppe, and Riverview. The focus will be on illicit public drug use and intelligence gathering, with consequences for individuals varying based on drug quantity, warrants, and history.
This initiative has been met with approval from Moncton Mayor Shawn Crossman, who has long raised concerns about public drug use. However, some council members, like Coun. Kate Doyle, stressed the importance of collecting data to ensure the blitz addresses underlying issues rather than merely displacing individuals. The data gathered may be presented to councils during their 2027 budget deliberations for the Codiac RCMP.
Last year, municipalities voted down a budget increase for more Mounties without sufficient data. The Codiac RCMP has previously piloted successful programs, including a dedicated downtown patrol and the 'Car 67' initiative pairing officers with social workers for mental health calls, which has reportedly reduced related calls for other officers.
