Cobourg Police Make Record Drug Seizure
By Cecilia Nasmith/Today’s Northumberland
June saw Cobourg Police Service make its largest-ever single drug-related seizure, Chief Paul VandeGraaf told the Cobourg Police Services Board at its June meeting.
The warrant, when executed, resulted in the arrest of a Cobourg man and the seizure of 411 grams of fentanyl – more than was seized in all of 2023.
Also seized were a loaded handgun, 125 grams of cocaine, 55 grams of methamphetamine, Oxycontin pills, more than 9,000 illegal cigarettes and $103,220 in Canadian currency.
This news was shared as part of the chief’s report for the past month, in which (of course) the Waterfront Festival figured prominently. It’s always a big event for the police as well as for the public, accounting for 219 calls for service, five arrests (three of them for public intoxication), two liquor-license tickets and four Highway Traffic Act charges.
“Overall, for an event like this and the amount of people downtown, a great event for our team,” VandeGraaf said.
“These types of events where our members are all-hands-on-deck help us make sure Cobourg can celebrate safely.”
VandeGraaf’s report for the past month included the Pride flag raising and barbecue, the Law Enforcment Torch Run in support of Special Olympics, and the seventh annual Golf Camp in partnership with YMCA Northumberland.
The June Cram-A-Cruiser brought in 2,852 lb. of food as well as $1,344 in cash and gift cards, he added, and the next one is July 28 at Wal-Mart.
A soft launch of the new Road Safety Impact Unit allows members (where their other duties permit) to enhance enforcement efforts in a targeted area. For June, the focus was distracted driving (specifically cell-phone use), and they charged 27 drivers with use of hand-held communications devices while driving.
The target changes by the month, VandeGraaf said, and they will announce these targets in advance so members of the public can be aware of these concerns.
Finally, three new faces have joined the unit, as Constables Kimball Marshall, Josh Bauer and Andrew Lane were welcomed aboard.
