A JOINT operation involving Nisga'a Fisheries & Wildlife Enforcement, BC Conservation Service and the RCMP over the weekend had officers patrolling the backcountry, highways and villages of the Nass Valley.
Roadblocks were set up in strategic locations and a number of vehicles and people were checked.
Officers enforced offences under the Criminal Code, the Motor Vehicle Act, the Wildlife Act and other hunting & fishing regulations as they pertain to the Nass Valley.
Sgt. Donovan Tait of the RCMP detachment in New Aiyansh said officers seized drugs and paraphernalia from a vehicle and issued a 24 driving prohibition to an impaired driver on the Cranberry Connector.
One motorist who was being investigated for a Wildlife Act offence on Highway #113 was served with a 4 month driving prohibition, he added.
"Officers take this as an opportunity to gather information on activities occurring in the backcountry, identify who is spending time out there and with whom. All three agencies share this information to assist with ongoing investigations, many that stretch well outside of the Nass Valley," said Tait.
"We don't make it any secret that we will be out there in force as the summer approaches ... we want people to be safe and play by the rules."
"The officers involved use these operations as way to educate and raise awareness with everyone they contact, and most contacts are positive ones," the sergeant continued.
Tait said that it people have possession of a firearm or have one in their vehicle, they cannot be under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
"For obvious reasons, we have zero tolerance for that and the consequences are significant and highly inconvenient if you are miles away from home in the bush," said Tait.
He said joint enforcement efforts will continue throughout the summer and fall throughout the Nass Valley will include officers patrolling on ATV's and riverboats on the Nass River.