THANKS TO THE DRUG TASK FORCE

Illegal drugs are a nationwide problem and Covington County is no exception.

In recent months, Covington Countians have been hearing a lot about
illegal drugs, particularly methamphetamine and methamphetamine
laboratories.

There is little doubt Covington County has a problem with people
abusing methamphetamine and other drugs, but perhaps our county's
problem isn't any worse than other counties in the state or nation.

Maybe we hear so much about the meth problem in Covington County
because we have a top-notch drug task force on the front lines
fighting the war against illicit drugs.

Since it was organized in September 2000 with a $175,000 grant from
the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs, the 22nd
Judicial Circuit Drug Task Force has confiscated more than 46
operational meth labs in Covington County, including one of the
largest drug busts in Alabama history.

On March 1, task force agents recovered 12 gallons of meth oil, which
translates to 101 pounds of the substance.

Last Friday, Speaker of the Alabama House of Representatives Seth
Hammett and State Sen. Jimmy Holley, who were instrumental in
obtaining grant moneys to fund the task force, gathered with other
community leaders to commend task force agents for their efforts and
present a resolution passed by the Alabama Legislature recognizing
their exemplary efforts to eradicate illegal drugs using aggressive,
effective and ethical means.

So far, the task force has a 100 percent conviction rate at the circuit level.

We join the Legislature in commending the task force agents for their
hard work and success rate.

As Hammett said in presenting the commendation, "This is no place
for" people involved in illegal drugs to be. "Go some place else."

Thanks, task force members. Keep up the good work.