Latest news with #drugarrests
CTV News
22-06-2025
- CTV News
Vancouver police report back on allegation of arrest quotas on Downtown Eastside
Arrest quotas are not in place as part of a crime crackdown on Vancouver's Downtown Eastside but 'performance measures do exist,' according to a report presented to the police board. In March, a complaint from someone identifying as an officer with the Vancouver Police Department alleged that 'arbitrary' quotas for daily drug arrests were being set as part of 'Task Force Barrage.' A heavily redacted version of the complaint was published, and it refers to an email from 'management' sent that 'set an expectation that each team working there would arrest (redacted) on drug charges.' The complainant was concerned that this would undermine officers' discretion, saying 'I don't think this is legal or right.' B.C.'s Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner ordered the board to take action, which it did by asking for an internally produced report. Supt. Matt Hardy drafted the report and presented the findings at last Thursday's meeting. In it, he acknowledged the email the complaint referenced did exist, and did include specific numbers. 'Ideally, we'd like 2-3 drug arrests and charges a day,' the email said, according to the report. When the task force launched and beat officers were being trained, 'there was no available performance measure as to what a reasonable arrest and charge goal would be for a shift,' according to Harty's report. 'The Staff Sgt. is setting a performance measure the purpose of which is educating everyone as to what a reasonable outcome would be during a shift.' A performance measure is 'aspirational' whereas a quota is mandatory and attached to consequences – both positive and negative – for employees, Harty told the board when presenting his report. 'The VPD does not set open or hidden quotas. The VPD does set performance measures…Quotas are rigid and have formal and informal employee rewards and punishments attached potentially leading to significant ethical issues and possible police deviance,' he said. 'Quotas also negatively impact marginalized communities through disproportionate enforcement.' Officers deployed as part of Task Force Barrage – like all officers – are still expected to use their discretion, Harty continued. 'The bottom line is that the VPD expects all members to only arrest and recommend charges when they have reasonable grounds based on lawful authority and have taken everything into consideration for each set of unique circumstances – while being mindful of proportionality and using diversion where appropriate,' he told the board. Keeping those criteria in mind, officers 'should arrest and recommend charges for as many drug traffickers as they can within each shift,' Harty continued, referring to the work of the task force which he said targets 'mid-to-high level' traffickers and not drug users. None of the board had any questions for Harty, and the recommendation to conclude the complaint passed unanimously. In addition to Harty's report, the meeting package contained a letter from University of British Columbia law professor Benjamin Perrin. In it, he urges the board to order an external review of the complaint. 'Given the well-documented tendency of police leadership to deny quota systems while they operate informally within departments, and considering the particular vulnerability of the Downtown Eastside community—especially its Indigenous residents—a thorough and vigorous independent investigation is essential to determine the truth and restore public confidence,' he wrote. 'Simply put, the police investigating themselves is insufficient.' Perrin's letter was referenced at the meeting but not discussed, and the board said the professor will be advised of the outcome.
Arab News
15-06-2025
- Arab News
Saudi forces foil several drug smuggling attempts
JEDDAH: Saudi authorities have made numerous drug-related arrests throughout the Kingdom recently, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Sunday. The General Directorate of Narcotics Control arrested a Yemeni resident in Jeddah for attempting to sell 194,000 amphetamine pills. Security patrols in Jazan thwarted two smuggling attempts involving 213 kg of qat in Al-Aridah governorate, while in Fifa governorate, 51 kg of qat were seized. Border Guard patrols in Jazan's Al-Dayer sector arrested seven Yemenis for smuggling 140 kg of qat. In Asir's Al-Raboah sector, patrols foiled an attempt to smuggle 19 kg of hashish and arrested three Ethiopians with 75 kg of qat. Preliminary legal procedures were completed in all cases, and all seized items were handed to the relevant authorities. Authorities urged the public to report drug activity by calling 911 in Makkah, Riyadh, and the Eastern Province, or 999 elsewhere. Reports can also be submitted confidentially via email to [email protected] or by calling 995.
Arab News
14-06-2025
- Arab News
Saudi authorities intensify efforts against drug traffickers and dealers
RIYADH: Saudi authorities have made numerous drug-related arrests throughout the Kingdom recently, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Saturday. Border Guard patrols in Al-Dayer, Jazan region, arrested eight Yemenis trying to smuggle in a total of 240 kg of qat in multiple separate attempts. The same sector also saw authorities thwart the attempted smuggling of 42 kg of hashish. In another attempt, land patrols in Al-Dayer prevented the smuggling in of 54 kg of hashish, 343,000 tablets regulated for medical use, and 2,000 amphetamine tablets. In Jazan's Fifa governorate, security patrols arrested two Ethiopians smuggling 35 kg of qat. In Al-Raboah, Asir region, Border Guard patrols arrested five Yemenis and Ethiopians smuggling 100 kg of qat and also prevented the smuggling in of a further 280 kg of qat. Also in Asir, a Sudanese resident was arrested with 125 kg of qat in Dhahran Al-Janoub, and an Ethiopian with 46 kg of qat in Al-Farsha. Security patrols in the Eastern Province arrested an Indian resident for selling heroin. Patrols from the General Directorate of Mujahideen in Jazan arrested two Ethiopians selling hashish, amphetamine, and regulated pills. The General Directorate of Narcotics Control arrested four citizens in the Eastern Province for the possession of 108 kg of hashish and for selling regulated tablets. Officials also arrested two Yemenis in Najran for selling amphetamines, locally known as shabu. Preliminary legal procedures were completed in all cases, and all seized items have been handed to the relevant authorities, the SPA reported. Authorities have urged the public to report drug smuggling or sales by calling 911 in Makkah, Riyadh, and the Eastern Province, or 999 in other regions. Reports can also be submitted confidentially to the General Directorate of Narcotics Control via email at [email protected] or by calling 995.
Arab News
11-06-2025
- Arab News
Several arrests made in drug crackdown across Saudi Arabia
RIYADH: Saudi authorities have made numerous drug-related arrests throughout the Kingdom, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday. Border Guard patrols in the Al-Raboah sector of the Asir region arrested 14 Ethiopians for smuggling 260 kg of qat. In a separate incident, four Ethiopians were arrested for smuggling 28 kg of qat in Al-Farsha governorate. Security patrols in Asir also arrested a citizen with 11 kg of qat in the same governorate. In the Al-Dayer sector of the Jazan region, authorities thwarted an attempt to smuggle 600 kg of qat. In another case, Border Guard patrols arrested an Ethiopian trying to smuggle 80 kg of qat. The General Directorate of Mujahideen in Jazan arrested two citizens for selling hashish, while the General Directorate of Narcotics Control arrested two Pakistanis and an Indonesian in Jeddah with 1.5 kg of methamphetamine, locally known as shabu. A citizen was also arrested in the Baha region for selling amphetamine. Preliminary legal procedures have been completed for all individuals, and the seized narcotics have been handed over to the authorities. The Saudi government urges anyone with information about smuggling or customs offenses to call the confidential hotline 1910, the international number +966114208417, or email [email protected]. All information is treated with strict confidentiality. Financial rewards are offered for valid information.
Malay Mail
11-06-2025
- Malay Mail
Six held for entering Malaysia via illegal jetties in Kelantan's Rantau Panjang
KOTA BHARU, June 11 — The General Operations Force (PGA) arrested four Malaysian men and two Thai women for entering the country illegally through illegal jetties in Rantau Panjang, along the Malaysian-Thai border yesterday. PGA South-east Brigade Commander Datuk Nik Ros Azhan Nik Ab Hamid said the six individuals were found to have entered Malaysia through illegal jetties, and all of them were without valid travel documents. He said all of them were arrested while attempting to enter the country via the Parkir, Pohon Jambu and MCA illegal jetties between 8.45am and 1.30pm. 'The arrests were the result of patrols by members through Op Taring Wawasan. Five of them were arrested under Section 5(2) of the Immigration Act 1959/63, while the other, who was the car driver, was arrested under Section 55(e) of the Immigration Act 1959/63,' he said in a statement today He said three of the male suspects tested positive for the drug, Ketamine and Meth. Meanwhile, Nik Ros Azhan said the PGA team also detained a vehicle suspected of carrying an illegal immigrant on the Rantau Panjang-Pasir Mas Highway yesterday. He said a Myanmar woman, who was a passenger in the car, was arrested for failing to produce any valid travel documents. The driver, a 34-year-old local man, was detained under Section 26A of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants (Atipsom) Act 2007, he added. — Bernama
