AUTHORITIES TELL SEN. CANTWELL ABOUT METH-GANG TIES

Many of the gang members the police put behind bars about 10 years
ago are now getting out of prison, said Clark County Sheriff Garry Lucas.

It's one of the explanations for the increase in gang activity that
now includes a thriving methamphetamine trade.

Lucas provided the historical perspective during a meeting with Sen.
Maria Cantwell, D-Washington, Thursday at the Vancouver Police
Department headquarters.

Cantwell reiterated her support for programs in Clark County that are
working to stem methamphetamine use.

She also called on Attorney General Alberto Gonzales to investigate
the link between gangs and methamphetamine trafficking. A letter is
on it's way to the attorney general, outlining the toll the drug
takes. The letter also relays the senator's disappointment with
President Bush's 2008 budget that includes millions of dollars in
cuts to the initiatives that have proven successful in curbing methamphetamine.

That's why I plan to work with congressional colleagues to make sure
that funding for these important programs is restored," Cantwell said
in the letter.

During Thursday's meeting with representatives from law enforcement,
local government, health care, nonprofits and education, Cantwell
did a lot of listening.

Law enforcement alone can't solve this problem," Lucas said.

Clark County sheriff's narcotics Detective Shane Gardner agreed.

This isn't a law enforcement issue, it's a community issue," he said.

An issue Gardner brought to Cantwell's attention is the challenge of
dealing with drug dealers who are not United States citizens. What
happens in those cases, he said, is the offenders get arrested, go to
jail then get deported to their home country without facing charges.
The same offenders then re-enter the country under a different
identity. Gardner said that has happened three times with one
suspect. The issue is further complicated by the fact that the
federal government handles immigration matters from Vancouver up in
Tacoma because it is Washington state, rather that using the federal
facilities in Portland.

Cantwell said she would look into Gardner's concerns.

It seems to me we ought to be able to do something there," she said.
I'm going to do some homework on that."

Bordering a state with different laws creates other challenges,
Gardner said. For example, a prescription is required for
pseudoephedrine in Oregon. In Washington, consumers must show
identification and are limited in the amount of medication they can
purchase. The popular decongestant is also a key ingredient in making
methamphetamine.

The discrepancy in the law leads Oregon meth cooks to buy
pseudoephedrine in Washington, Gardner said.

The river does not deter any criminal," he said.

What could provide a deterrent is bringing back the gang task forces
that were effective 10 years ago, said several of those in attendance.

Cantwell agreed and said she would like to see lawmakers move from
fighting for funding in every budget to long-term support. She also
is in favor of expanding the response. That could include stemming
the supply coming in from Mexico and dealing with the resurgence of
gangs, she said.

I want to do more than maintain resources," Cantwell said. "I think
we're going to have to have a more aggressive effort."