In fact, the residence in question, located on Burgar Street, had been the target of a search warrant very recently, he said.

"We did shut it down two months ago, but the thing is that it's right back up," said Bell, explaining that the suspects arrested in the case had since been released from custody.

"Our resources are limited, unfortunately."

The arrest happened on June 25, when officers spotted a Welland man, 46, leaving the house at about 7:10 a.m. Officers stopped his car and upon searching him, found $1,200 worth of alleged cocaine and prescription Oxycotine tablets, narcotics that are a powerful - and addictive - painkiller.

The man was charged with two counts each of drug trafficking and drug possession, as well as possession of property obtained by crime and breach of probation. He was taken into custody pending a bail hearing.

Due process sometimes makes it difficult to keep dealers off the street for extended periods of time, said Bell, especially in Welland, a city that has a high volume of drug activity for its size.

"It's frustrating for everyone, especially the public," said Bell.

So far this year, the street crime unit, a three-officer task force in Port Colborne and Welland dedicated to offences at the street level, with help from other officers, have executed about 14 search warrants in Welland and two in Port Colborne, racking up numerous arrests on multiple charges.

The numbers are far more than from last year and it's only July, said the detective.

But there's still more out there, said Bell.

"We only have so much time, so much manpower," he said. "I think more resources would be better in anything like this."

But Bell isn't laying any blame on the courts, sometimes the target of criticism for handing down light sentences for convicted criminals.

"Their hands are tied," he said, adding that judges and prosecutors have processes to follow as per the Criminal Code of Canada.

People in the community, the police's "main source of information," said Bell, are very helpful in Welland's war of drugs, whether it be a simple heads-up or a specific tip.

"The more information we can add to these warrants, the less likely we'll be shut down when we apply for a warrant," he said.

Police can be reached at 905-688-4111. Anonymous tips can be left at CrimeStoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS.