DUNCAN PRESENTS DRUG FORCE CHANGES

ASHEVILLE -- Changes for Buncombe County's main drug enforcement
agency are in the works, Sheriff Van Duncan said Thursday.

The sheriff, almost two months into his job as the county's top
lawman, presented changes for drug enforcement during a presentation
to the Council of Independent Business Owners.

He said the Metropolitan Enforcement Group, also known as MEG, could
be renamed and refocused to fight street-level and intermediate drug
dealers. "We're hoping to become more effective," Duncan said. The
agency is a cooperative effort between officers from the sheriff's
department and the State Bureau of Investigation and is active in
targeting large distributors. But with increased federal Drug
Enforcement Agency presence in Buncombe County, MEG could be
duplicating drug-fighting efforts, Duncan said.

The Asheville Police Department pulled out of the cooperative agency
about two years ago to concentrate on street-level dealing within the
city. "If you ask me, the biggest challenge we have ahead of us is
the drug problem in Asheville and Buncombe County," Duncan said.
Asheville City Councilman Carl Mumpower said the sheriff's focus on
drug enforcement is encouraging. Mumpower has been critical of city
police for not being tough enough on drugs.

"I think he's serious," Mumpower said.