FOUR women were arrested last week and three children taken into custody in a raid on a Xwemelch'stn home where police say liquor was being sold illegally.
Officers descended on the house on West Vancouver's Capilano 5 reserve at 10: 30 p.m. on July 20 and searched the premises, seizing alcohol and a small amount of marijuana, as well as "evidence of an ongoing illegal after-sales operation," according to West Vancouver police.
"This was an all-hours place where you could go and buy alcohol - hard liquor, beer and certainly drugs," said Cpl. Fred Harding, a spokesman for the WVPD.
"There wasn't an awful lot of liquor seized, but there was evidence of a large-scale liquor operation going on. There were lots of empty liquor containers still inside the house. Lots."
Police took the four suspects into custody and moved the three small children to another household. The Ministry of Children and Families was later called in to look into their care. The children and the suspects were all related, according to police.
The raid capped an investigation that was launched more than a month ago in response to tips from the community, said Harding. The case underscored the improved co-operation that has emerged in recent years between the police and the Nation, he said.
"There are a lot of preconceived ideas about the reserve, but the community themselves are saying this (type of thing) is not acceptable," said Harding. "They're just sick to death of it; they're working to break the cycle."
Harding put out a release about the raid on Thursday, and by Friday morning was already receiving new tips, he said.
"I've got no doubt there are other (operations) that still need to be tackled out there," said Harding. "There's always going to be work for us to do. We just keep chipping away at it."
The women arrested in Wednesday's incident are facing drug charges and charges under the Liquor Control Act. All four were released with conditions.
West Vancouver police are asking anyone with information about the alleged operation to call them at 604-925-7300.
jweldon@nsnews.com
