NEBEKER, Associate Judge:
This appeal, brought by the Government from an adverse ruling on a motion to suppress, presents a question as to the nature of the averments required for the issuance of a nighttime search warrant pursuant to 21 U.S.C. § 879(a) (1970).1 The Government contends that such a search warrant requires a showing of probable cause. The trial court in rejecting the Government’s view required more than was shown and ruled that there was no “probable cause to believe that grounds existed” for nighttime execution and that there was no showing that successful daytime execution was impossible.2 We hold that [166]*166a search warrant, issued pursuant to § 879(a) on a showing of probable cause to believe that grounds exist for the warrant, may be executed at night on a similar showing of probable cause that the items sought are present at such time. The trial court’s order granting the motion to suppress is therefore reversed and the case remanded for further proceedings.
Officers of the Metropolitan Police Department and a reliable informant confirmed a report that narcotics were seen and being sold at a second floor premises by allowing the informant to make a controlled purchase of narcotics therein. The described purchase and subsequent field test were recited in an affidavit presented to a United States magistrate for the District of Columbia in support of a request for a search warrant which was based on § 879 (a). The warrant, permitting day or nighttime execution, was issued on the basis that there was “reason to believe” the premises contained contraband. The warrant was executed two days thereafter at 9:40 p. m. by the Metropolitan Police officers. Narcotics and narcotic paraphernalia were found and appellees were charged with violations of various sections of the D.C. Code 3 as a result of their presence at the premises.4
Appellees, in their motion to suppress, contended that the warrant and supporting affidavit did not comply with the specific provisions of D.C.Code 1967, §§ 23-521 (f) (5) and 23-522(c) (1) (Supp. IV, 1971), which they urged are impliedly incorporated in 21 U.S.C. § 879(a) (1970). They relied, and do so here, on United States v. Gooding, 328 F.Supp. 1005, (D.D.C.1971). In the cases now before us, the trial court concluded:
“There was no basis in the affidavit for issuance of a warrant authorizing search at night under either 21 U.S.C. § 879(a) or D.C.Code 521(f) (5).”
The phrase, “and for its service at such time”, in 21 U.S.C. § 879(a) (see footnote 1, supra), was viewed by the trial court as requiring a compelling need for execution at night. We believe that in proper context it must be viewed as language requiring only a determination that the facts showing probable cause reasonably justify execution “at such time” as permitted by the magistrate. Accordingly, and with deference to the decision in United States v. Gooding, supra, we conclude that the warrant was valid and that the special provisions of § 879(a) control in this case notwithstanding the general provisions of D.C.Code 1967, §§ 23-521-523 (Supp. IV, 1971).
In Gooding the District of Columbia nighttime search warrant provisions of § 23-522(c) (1) were viewed as “special or local” in order to support the conclusion that those provisions modified or qualified the “general” federal nighttime provision of § 879(a). We think it more in harmony with the obvious intent of Congress to give special treatment to narcotics law enforcement to view such provisions as the “special” ones (including D.C.Code 1967, § 33-414(h)) not subject to qualification by the general search warrant provisions of the U.S. and D.C.Codes (Rule 41(c), Federal [167]*167Rules of Criminal Procedure, and § 23-522 (c) (1)). The “special” area of legislation is narcotics law enforcement, not District of Columbia law enforcement. The latter, consistent with federal enforcement policy, has been given general treatment in § 522 (c) (1) and special treatment (narcotics) in § 33-114(h). Gooding assumed “a conflict so irreconcilable that the two acts cannot stand together” (1 Sutherland, Statutory Construction § 2022 n. 2 (3d ed. 1943)) when no conflict exists if the overall congressional policy is recognized.
In resolving this question of statutory interpretation the legislative history of § 879 is most helpful. Pub.L. No. 91-513 entitled “Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act of 1970”, of which § 879 is a part, had as its primary goal the collection of several provisions of the United States Code relating to drug problems into one title of the Code. Section 879(a) of Title 21 was in substance the reenactment of former 18 U.S.C. § 1405 with some modified language. The latter was also a special provision relaxing the nighttime positivity standard under Fed.R.Crim.P. 41 (c) respecting narcotics law enforcement under the Narcotic Control Act of 1956.5 No change was intended in application or meaning of § 1405 with the enactment of the new 21 U.S.C. § 879(a).6 The explanation given by Congress in respect to the nighttime search warrant provision enacted in 1956 was:
“The restrictions which now govern the issuance of night search warrants [Rule 41 (c) ] would be liberalized so that a search warrant could be issued [executed] at any time of the day or night if the judge or the commissioner issuing the warrant is satisfied that there is probable cause to believe that the grounds for the application exist.” United States Code Congressional and Administrative News, 84th Cong., 2d Sess. p. 3276 (1956).
During the same session of Congress § 33-414(h) of the D.C.Code was amended to conform with the new federal narcotics search warrant provisions. The result is that the same standards relating to the narcotic and general search warrant provisions exist in the D.C.Code.7
[168]*168Thus, it is apparent that each statutory scheme provides generally for nighttime search warrants with a further showing than probable cause. Likewise, each statutory scheme allows the issuance of a search warrant for day or nighttime searches on the more relaxed finding of time-related probable cause when dealing with narcotics law violations. The special laws dealing with narcotics and drug problems must, under familiar rules of statutory construction, be viewed as controlling over the general search warrant provisions in the area of otherwise apparent conflict.8 Thus, any apparent literal conflict between the federal and local search warrant provisions is eliminated and appropriate meaning given to both statutory provisions.9 As the dissent observes, this conclusion is consistent with United States v.
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NEBEKER, Associate Judge:
This appeal, brought by the Government from an adverse ruling on a motion to suppress, presents a question as to the nature of the averments required for the issuance of a nighttime search warrant pursuant to 21 U.S.C. § 879(a) (1970).1 The Government contends that such a search warrant requires a showing of probable cause. The trial court in rejecting the Government’s view required more than was shown and ruled that there was no “probable cause to believe that grounds existed” for nighttime execution and that there was no showing that successful daytime execution was impossible.2 We hold that [166]*166a search warrant, issued pursuant to § 879(a) on a showing of probable cause to believe that grounds exist for the warrant, may be executed at night on a similar showing of probable cause that the items sought are present at such time. The trial court’s order granting the motion to suppress is therefore reversed and the case remanded for further proceedings.
Officers of the Metropolitan Police Department and a reliable informant confirmed a report that narcotics were seen and being sold at a second floor premises by allowing the informant to make a controlled purchase of narcotics therein. The described purchase and subsequent field test were recited in an affidavit presented to a United States magistrate for the District of Columbia in support of a request for a search warrant which was based on § 879 (a). The warrant, permitting day or nighttime execution, was issued on the basis that there was “reason to believe” the premises contained contraband. The warrant was executed two days thereafter at 9:40 p. m. by the Metropolitan Police officers. Narcotics and narcotic paraphernalia were found and appellees were charged with violations of various sections of the D.C. Code 3 as a result of their presence at the premises.4
Appellees, in their motion to suppress, contended that the warrant and supporting affidavit did not comply with the specific provisions of D.C.Code 1967, §§ 23-521 (f) (5) and 23-522(c) (1) (Supp. IV, 1971), which they urged are impliedly incorporated in 21 U.S.C. § 879(a) (1970). They relied, and do so here, on United States v. Gooding, 328 F.Supp. 1005, (D.D.C.1971). In the cases now before us, the trial court concluded:
“There was no basis in the affidavit for issuance of a warrant authorizing search at night under either 21 U.S.C. § 879(a) or D.C.Code 521(f) (5).”
The phrase, “and for its service at such time”, in 21 U.S.C. § 879(a) (see footnote 1, supra), was viewed by the trial court as requiring a compelling need for execution at night. We believe that in proper context it must be viewed as language requiring only a determination that the facts showing probable cause reasonably justify execution “at such time” as permitted by the magistrate. Accordingly, and with deference to the decision in United States v. Gooding, supra, we conclude that the warrant was valid and that the special provisions of § 879(a) control in this case notwithstanding the general provisions of D.C.Code 1967, §§ 23-521-523 (Supp. IV, 1971).
In Gooding the District of Columbia nighttime search warrant provisions of § 23-522(c) (1) were viewed as “special or local” in order to support the conclusion that those provisions modified or qualified the “general” federal nighttime provision of § 879(a). We think it more in harmony with the obvious intent of Congress to give special treatment to narcotics law enforcement to view such provisions as the “special” ones (including D.C.Code 1967, § 33-414(h)) not subject to qualification by the general search warrant provisions of the U.S. and D.C.Codes (Rule 41(c), Federal [167]*167Rules of Criminal Procedure, and § 23-522 (c) (1)). The “special” area of legislation is narcotics law enforcement, not District of Columbia law enforcement. The latter, consistent with federal enforcement policy, has been given general treatment in § 522 (c) (1) and special treatment (narcotics) in § 33-114(h). Gooding assumed “a conflict so irreconcilable that the two acts cannot stand together” (1 Sutherland, Statutory Construction § 2022 n. 2 (3d ed. 1943)) when no conflict exists if the overall congressional policy is recognized.
In resolving this question of statutory interpretation the legislative history of § 879 is most helpful. Pub.L. No. 91-513 entitled “Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act of 1970”, of which § 879 is a part, had as its primary goal the collection of several provisions of the United States Code relating to drug problems into one title of the Code. Section 879(a) of Title 21 was in substance the reenactment of former 18 U.S.C. § 1405 with some modified language. The latter was also a special provision relaxing the nighttime positivity standard under Fed.R.Crim.P. 41 (c) respecting narcotics law enforcement under the Narcotic Control Act of 1956.5 No change was intended in application or meaning of § 1405 with the enactment of the new 21 U.S.C. § 879(a).6 The explanation given by Congress in respect to the nighttime search warrant provision enacted in 1956 was:
“The restrictions which now govern the issuance of night search warrants [Rule 41 (c) ] would be liberalized so that a search warrant could be issued [executed] at any time of the day or night if the judge or the commissioner issuing the warrant is satisfied that there is probable cause to believe that the grounds for the application exist.” United States Code Congressional and Administrative News, 84th Cong., 2d Sess. p. 3276 (1956).
During the same session of Congress § 33-414(h) of the D.C.Code was amended to conform with the new federal narcotics search warrant provisions. The result is that the same standards relating to the narcotic and general search warrant provisions exist in the D.C.Code.7
[168]*168Thus, it is apparent that each statutory scheme provides generally for nighttime search warrants with a further showing than probable cause. Likewise, each statutory scheme allows the issuance of a search warrant for day or nighttime searches on the more relaxed finding of time-related probable cause when dealing with narcotics law violations. The special laws dealing with narcotics and drug problems must, under familiar rules of statutory construction, be viewed as controlling over the general search warrant provisions in the area of otherwise apparent conflict.8 Thus, any apparent literal conflict between the federal and local search warrant provisions is eliminated and appropriate meaning given to both statutory provisions.9 As the dissent observes, this conclusion is consistent with United States v. Green, 331 F. Supp. 44 (D.D.C.1971), which is in direct conflict with United States v. Gooding, supra.
Appellees argue that in any event the trial court’s order granting the motion to suppfess can be sustained because Congress has denied members of the Metropolitan Police Department the authority to execute search warrants for violations of 21 U.S.C. § 879(a), the Controlled Substances Act. This allegation is based upon [169]*169the fact that when § 879 was enacted to replace the former 18 U.S.C. § 1405 the specific grant of authority in § 1405 given to Metropolitan Police of the District of Columbia to execute federal narcotics warrants was not carried forward. We do not view this as compelling the result appellees suggest. Even assuming failure to carry forward this provision to be of some significance, we doubt the standing of appel-lees to complain on this point. At most, such assumed lack of official authority or duty could not be viewed as creating a right in narcotics offenders to be free of law enforcement efforts of our local police in this area of applicable federal law. We will not impute to Congress, in enacting this most recent and comprehensive effort at drug control, an intent to curtail existing enforcement activities of those who have more general duties in addition. In the event Congress so intended, it most surely would not have left such an important step to conjecture or inference in lieu of a positive expression of intent.
In any event, the Metropolitan Police have been given the authority to execute any warrant issued in the District of Columbia. D.C.Code 1967, § 4-138 provides in part:
“Any warrant for search or arrest, issued by any magistrate of the District, may be executed in any part of the District by any member of the police force,
Under provisions describing “magistrates” or “judicial officers” relating to local search warrants, the judges of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, or the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, or a U.S. commissioner or magistrate for the District of Columbia are all described as having power to issue such warrants.10 Clearly, the officers of the Metropolitan Police Department have the authority to execute any v/arrant issued by such magistrates. Therefore this warrant properly fell within the executing officers’ duties.
Moreover, although the Metropolitan Police Department might be viewed as a “local” law enforcement body, this fact does not limit its authority to enforce laws of the United States. Indeed, the officers of the Metropolitan Police Department have been charged with the responsibility of “cooperat[ing] with Federal police agencies in the enforcement of Federal laws.” Organization Order No. 153, (66-1727, Nov. 10, 1966), D.C.Code 1967, Title 1, Appendix at 180. Under the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, Rule 41(c), this fact is sufficient to qualify Metropolitan Police officers as “civil officer[s] of the United States authorized to enforce or assist in enforcing any law thereof . . ” [Emphasis supplied.] Such civil officers have the authority to execute federal search warrants issued under Rule 41. In addition, the law enforcement activities of the Metropolitan Police Department are chiefly the enforcement of United States’ laws because “[c] rimes committed in the District are not crimes against the District, but against the United States.” Metropolitan R. R. Co. v. District of Columbia, 132 U.S. 1, 9, 10 S.Ct. 19, 22, 33 L.Ed. 231 (1889). See also United States v. Cella, 37 App.D.C. 423 (1911). Because the Metropolitan Police are charged with enforcing the laws of the same sovereign which created the federal and local laws relating to search warrants and narcotics laws, we find nothing illegal in having Metropolitan Police officers execute search warrants issued pursuant to federal law as distinguished from District of Columbia law. The order appealed from is reversed and the case is remanded for further proceedings not inconsistent with this opinion.
Reversed and remanded.