MCDONALD COUNTY, MO Missouri State Highway Patrol officers were productive
in making drug arrests within the 18-county Troop D region during the past
year.

Officers were, in fact, even more productive than figures released by the
Springfield-based troop reflect, according to Sgt. Terry Moore. Drug
interdiction and investigation activity totals for the year 2000 released
by MoHP represent only felony offenses, and do not include dozens of
misdemeanor cases handled by field officers, Moore reported recently.
Totals also represent only investigations and arrests initiated by the
Missouri Highway Patrol, and do not include those activities in which Troop
D assisted other law enforcement agencies.

During 2000, it was reported, Troop D personnel participated in 59 criminal
drug investigations, resulting in the arrest of 79 suspects. Drugs seized
included 4,700 pounds of marijuana; 75 pounds of cocaine; 14 pounds of
methamphetamine; and 200 hits of ecstasy.

Assets seized included five vehicles - a 2000 Jeep, 1995 Dodge pickup, 1996
Dodge pickup, 1994 Nissan van and a 1988 Peterbilt tractor - 18 guns and
$1.18 million in cash.

The largest drug seizure was 1,500 pounds of marijuana found hidden in a
false compartment in the roof of a tractor-trailer unit. The largest cash
seizure was $854,000 found in a vehicle stopped for a traffic violation on
Interstate Highway 44 in Greene County.

Activity by county in the Troop D region last year included: . Greene: 25
investigations resulted in 33 arrests.

. Lawrence: 15 investigations resulted in 18 arrests. . Jasper: 11
investigations resulted in 15 arrests.

. Barry: Two investigations resulted in one arrest. . Webster: Two
investigations resulted in two arrests. . Dade: One investigation resulted
in four arrests.

. Taney: One investigation resulted in three arrests. . Stone: One
investigation resulted in one arrest.

. Vernon: One investigation resulted in one arrest. When asked about the
absence of McDonald County from the list, Moore said, "Those numbers are
not all-inclusive."

"There are a lot of factors playing into those numbers," he said. Moore
also emphasized that the numbers reflect MoHP-instigated investigations,
and do not include cases in which the troopers may have lent an assisting
presence.

"The McDonald County sheriff may not have asked us for assistance (in drug
interdiction)," he said.

"The Patrol recognizes McDonald County has some difficult roadways, (and)
its presence is more traffic-related there."

A lot of the drug work the Missouri Highway Patrol investigates is "along
the I-44 corridor," he said.

In other Missouri Highway Patrol news, Capt. Mel Schmitt, commanding
officer of Troop D, announced Wednesday, Jan. 24, two additional troopers
have been assigned to the McDonald and Newton county areas of southwest
Missouri. Reason given for the action is the belief manpower increases and
stepped up enforcement, including driving while intoxicated sobriety
checkpoints, will help reduce the number of traffic accidents and
fatalities on Missouri highways. Of the 1,144 people killed last year on
Missouri roads, 19 were in McDonald County and 12 were in Newton County.