Ottawa Police Chief Vern White says residents should be prepared to hear more about drug crime in the capital by year's end.
"You're going to see a dramatic increase in drug crime because we're targeting drugs, we're trying to take drug dealers off the streets," White told the Ottawa Police Services board at a meeting Monday night.
Although White said he expects more reports of drug crime during an upcoming crackdown, he cautioned people need to remember increased reports don't necessarily mean more drugs on Ottawa streets.
"We need to continue to remind the public it doesn't mean there's more drugs out there -- it means we're focusing more on drugs."
White also commended the police force for its campaign to clamp down on street racing in the city.
Police said 270 speeding tickets were issued and 15 vehicles were seized during Operation Erase, an eight-night enforcement of new stunt driving laws this summer.
