Chief of UCCM Anishnaabe Police has high hopes for new drug unit
The chief of the United Chiefs and Councils of Manitoulin Anishnaabe Police has high hopes that a new drug enforcement unit will not only reduce drug incidents on Manitoulin Island, but will also take down the people trafficking the drugs.
One Monday, the UCCM Anishnaabe Police announced it was setting up its first full-time drug enforcement unit “to combat drug trafficking, human trafficking and organized crime, and make all communities on Manitoulin Island safe,” a news release said.
“Everyone’s seen the change -- the unfortunate change -- that’s happened on Manitoulin, not just in our communities but across the entire island, and they know that this is needed,” police chief James Killeen told CTV News in a Zoom interview.
Killeen said residents in the six First Nation communities the police force covers have been asking for solutions to the growing drug problem.
The new drug unit will put a major focus on mid- to upper-level drug traffickers.
“They know that they can come up here and there’s a large amount of profitability for their illicit drug trade,” Killeen said.
“They’re selling drugs here for three and four times the amount that they are in southern Ontario ... They have less concentrated effort on them and they can easily intimidate people here.”
The chief of the United Chiefs and Councils of Manitoulin Anishnaabe Police has high hopes that a new drug enforcement unit will not only reduce drug incidents on Manitoulin Island, but will also take down the people trafficking the drugs.
Statistics from the past three years show UCCM police made 85 arrests for criminal and drug-related charges. Of those, 22 were from southern Ontario.
Along with taking down traffickers, Killeen said the new drug unit will collect intelligence to share with other police services, including the OPP.
- Download our app to get local alerts on your device
- Get the latest local updates right to your inbox
“I want to be able to show the connection between major criminal organizations that are coming to our island. We’re going to do that by working in partnership,” he said.
“We are aware that the more information that we’re going to gather, the more connections we’re going to be able to make and we’re going to be able to show people that Manitoulin Island is a hub for criminal activity that needs to be concentrated on.”
The five full-time positions come with a number of incentives, including experience pay, increased benefits and available housing.
The jobs will be posted for the next month or until the police service funds the right candidates.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6979388.1722030190!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.jpg)
Celine Dion delivers stirring comeback performance at Paris Olympics opening ceremony
Against the rainy Paris night sky, Celine Dion staged the comeback of her career with a powerful performance from the Eiffel Tower to open the Olympic Games.
Jasper wildfire: 'Several weeks' before residents can return, premier says
Premier Danielle Smith said Friday afternoon in Hinton while weather conditions are cooler, the Jasper fire is still considered out of control and that Jasper residents can expect to be away from their homes 'for several weeks.'
Missing 3-year-old boy found dead in creek in Mississauga, Ont.: police
A three-year-old boy has been found dead a day after he went missing in a park in Mississauga, Ont., Peel police say.
Irish museum pulls Sinead O'Connor waxwork after just one day due to backlash
An Irish museum will withdraw a waxwork of singer-songwriter Sinéad O'Connor just one day after installing it, following a backlash from her family and the public, it told CNN in a statement on Friday.
Winnipeg senior's account overdrawn for $146,000 water bill
A Winnipeg senior is getting soaked with a six-figure water bill.
FBI says Trump was indeed struck by bullet during assassination attempt
Nearly two weeks after Donald Trump’s near assassination, the FBI confirmed Friday that it was indeed a bullet that struck the former president’s ear, moving to clear up conflicting accounts about what caused the former U.S. president’s injuries after a gunman opened fire at a Pennsylvania rally.
Driver charged after flashing high beams at approaching police
Orillia OPP arrested and charged a driver with impaired driving after flashing their high beams.
Turpel-Lafond won't sue CBC over Cree heritage report that took 'heavy toll': lawyer
The lawyer for a former judge whose claims to be Cree were questioned in a CBC investigation says his client is not considering legal action against the broadcaster after the Law Society of British Columbia this week backed her claims of Indigenous heritage.
Major Canadian bank experiences direct deposit outage on payday
Scotiabank says it has fixed a technical issue that impacted direct deposits on Friday morning.