Drug Seizures Continue to top Near North Crime Stoppers Figures

Near North Crime Stoppers
Media Release

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It’s really no surprise to officials with the Near North Crime Stoppers organization, one of 39 programs in the province, to hear that drug seizures continue to top the list this past year. Although “There were no major records set in the past 12 months, it was still a busy time,” says Jean Lemieux one of two police coordinators who work in the office. The North Bay Police coordinator points out “There were just over 550 new tips received during the year, which brings the total tips in the past 19 years to 10,344. Lemieux says, “Of the 550 tips this past year, nearly half were drug related and led police to the recovery of $350,000 in illegal drugs.”

Lemieux adds, “Basically from the start of the Near North Crime Stoppers program, information regarding illegal drug activities has dominated the list of calls received.”

The Ontario Provincial Police coordinator in the Near North Crime Stoppers office is Simon Moussa. He notes that the majority of those calling in tips are more interested in seeing justice done rather than the

financial end of it. Moussa notes, “Of the 550 tips, only 15 of them involved rewards, with close to $7,400 being paid out in the past year. That’s about half of the record amount paid out just two years ago. “You have to take into account that two years ago Near North Crime Stoppers also set a record for the amount of illicit drugs recovered with a total estimate of over nine million dollars,” adds Moussa.

The chair of Near North Crime Stoppers Board of Directors, Conrad Thibeault is quite pleased with the program, despite lower numbers. “You can’t expect to be setting record numbers every year,” adds the chair. “I think the fact that we are getting over 550 new tips a year is still something to make us very proud.” Thibeault goes on to say, “It is a real credit to our operation to see the kind of cooperation that Near North Crime Stoppers is getting from our anonymous sources, as well as our donors. Without both our supporters and persons calling in tips the program would not be able to operate.”

Near North Crime Stoppers also has a couple of major events coming up in the next few months. Next weekend (January 19-20) we will be having a display at Northgate Shopping Centre, complete with a special appearance by our mascot, Nipper, the crime-fighting dog. Members of the public are invited to drop by our booth and chat. Then our big event of the year will be the Jail-a-thon, also at Northgate on Friday, April 27th. The jail-a-thon, held every other year, is our biggest and most successful fundraiser. This year we are hoping to raise $20,000. Success in this area is important because the day-to-day operation of Crime Stoppers is not funded by any government agency.

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