DRUG BLITZ SHOWS SCALE OF PROBLEM NATIONALLY

One-Day Raids Seized 24 Meth Labs In State

On March 5, 2008, 41 states participated in a nationwide arrest
roundup of drug violators, called "Operation Byrne Blitz."

The name is in reference to the federally funded Byrne-Justice
Assistance Grant that not only funds vital drug task forces across
the nation, but also Drug Courts and rehabilitation programs.

The roundup targeted drug dealers in rural and urban neighborhoods,
not addicts or users. This operation was planned and coordinated at
the national level by the National Alliance of State Drug Enforcement
Agencies in partnership with the National Narcotics Officers'
Associations' Coalition.

Nationally, the operation resulted in the arrests of 4,220
individuals on drug-related charges, the seizure of 20,851 pounds of
marijuana, 886 marijuana plants, 1,749 pounds of cocaine, 120 pounds
of methamphetamine, 6,973 pharmaceutical pills, 13,244 ecstasy pills
and a variety of other drugs.

Also seized were 666 firearms and $13.4 million in U.S. currency.
Most importantly, 228 children were determined to be endangered and
those cases were referred to their respected child protection agencies.

In Alabama, nineteen Byrne-JAG drug task forces participated on the
operation. The roundup resulted in the arrest of 286 persons,
seizures of 1,872 grams of methamphetamine oil, 205.7 grams of
methamphetamine, 101 grams of cocaine, 60.7 grams of crack cocaine,
13,987 grams of marijuana, 11 firearms, numerous stolen property and
$25,013.00 in U.S. currency.

Also, 36 search warrants were executed. Again, most importantly in
the operation was the discovery of 15 endangered children who were
referred to the Department of Human Resources.

One striking statistic in this one-day operation is the seizure of
105 meth labs nationally. This number includes 24 meth labs in
Alabama alone.

It is vital that Congress properly fund this grant for local law
enforcement. State and local governments can not conduct this fight
alone. Drug trafficking is an international problem that affects the
citizens of Alabama at a neighborhood level.

This coordinated effort demonstrated the significance of drug related
crimes and stresses the importance of the federally funded Byrne
Justice Assistance Grant program.

Jim Henderson is southern vice president of the Alabama Narcotics
Officers Association. Web site: www.alanarc.com.