Do big drug busts actually cause more harm?
published on November 22, 2024 by Rafferty Baker in CBC News
On Wednesday, Surrey RCMP announced a significant drug bust, describing it as one of the largest in the detachment’s history. However, advocates for drug policy reform say big drug seizures like this actually lead to an increase in violence, overdoses and other negative health effects.
Along with hundreds of counterfeit prescription pills, police say they seized dozens of kilograms of methamphetamine, cocaine, MDMA and 36 kilograms of fentanyl. Assistant Commissioner Brian Edwards said the significant seizure, which included guns, cash and cars, will disrupt the drug trade in Surrey.
According to researchers, there are two sides to that disruption.
“On a positive level, they’re able to infiltrate a a group that is causing considerable harm within the community and a seizure of that volume of fentanyl means it’s off the street,” said Neil Boyd, professor emeritus of criminology at Simon Fraser University and board chair of the International Centre for Criminal Law and Criminal Justice Policy…
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