ICE SEIZED RECORD $3.5M IN DRUGS

More than a record $3.5 million in illegal drugs never were used in
2004 because the narcotics were confiscated during traffic stops by
the sheriff's Interstate Crime Enforcement unit, the supervisor said.

Most of the illegal drugs were bound for Atlanta or Nashville for
distribution throughout the United States, which impacts Rutherford
County directly, said ICE Lt. Chris Haynes.

Narcotics delivered to Rutherford County are commonly distributed
through Atlanta or Nashville.

"Atlanta and Nashville are hubs, and a lot of this large quantity
taken to these two cities are broken down into small quantities and
shipped back to Murfreesboro and Rutherford County," Haynes said. "It
does come back."

The federal Drug Enforcement Administration noted on its Web site
Tennessee is unique because it is bordered by eight states, and the
interstate and state highway systems crisscross the four major cities
and cover each border.

"These highways carry a very large volume of traffic and are a primary
means of moving drugs to and through Tennessee," the DEA stated.

The state is primarily a user and shipment state, not a major source
for any drug except domestically grown marijuana, DEA reported.

Haynes said DEA agents in Nashville informed him drug traffickers are
aware of the interdiction efforts in Rutherford County.

"They're (traffickers) very concerned about our presence and are doing
things to avoid Rutherford County," Haynes said.

During 2004, the six-deputy unit confiscated a record $486,395
cash.

"Money seized is used to pay the salaries of four narcotics detectives
and two ICE deputies," Haynes said. "We fund six positions between the
two units at no cost to the taxpayers."

Other funds are used for training, narcotics investigations, vehicles
and operating costs. They plan to purchase some video cameras for
patrol units.

Deputies recovered eight grams of heroin but no LSD.

"We seized 907 pounds of marijuana, 68 pounds of cocaine, 28-1/2
pounds of crystal methamphetamine and 500 hits of Ecstasy," Haynes
said.

The unit arrested 338 people, 69 on felony charges and 269 on
misdemeanor charges. It apprehended 25 fugitives.

Roughly 40 percent of the people arrested live in Rutherford
County.

More cases were adopted and prosecuted on the federal level last year,
he added.

One of the most noticeable trends centered on methamphetamine.

"Methamphetamine is coming on in this area," Haynes
noted.

One-half ounce of meth was confiscated in 2003 as compared to the
28-1/2 pounds in 2004.

The deputies issued 1,410 traffic citations.

"There were no fatalities on the interstate while we were working,"
Haynes said.

He attributed the lack of deaths on visibility.

"It slows people down and keeps them from driving as aggressively,"
Haynes said.