DRUG ENFORCEMENT TO BE BEEFED UP

PURVIS - Lamar County Sheriff Marvin Breazeale will spend the $50,000 the
department received as its share in the sale of land seized as part of a
drug trafficking operation to beef up his drug enforcement division.

Breazeale's share of the proceeds from the property, which sold for
$200,000 at auction, was $30,000, but District 15 District Attorney Buddy
McDonald Monday added $20,000 to the amount.

Breazeale said he will buy surveillance equipment and a new vehicle for his
drug enforcement division.

"We appreciate the cooperation from Lamar County," McDonald said. "Since
this came about because of a crime problem in Lamar County, I wanted to put
the money back so it would help the county's citizens."

Lamar County and state agents seized 40 acres in Sumrall owned by Orlan
Miller. The property was used as part of a methamphetamine trafficking
operation in Mississippi and Louisiana.

Money from the sale of property seized as part of an illegal drug operation
is usually divided among the participating agencies.

The remainder of the money from the sale after bills were paid, about
$54,000, goes to the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics.

Supervisor President Mike Backstrom said county officials appreciate the
extra money for the sheriff's operation, which offsets the money the county
paid for the property.

The property, which was auctioned off in December, was purchased by Lamar
County to be used as a future gravel site.

County officials were criticized for the purchase by a group of taxpayers
who protested the way in which the attorney representing the county bid
$200,000 after an opening bid of $80,000.

McDonald said Miller's case and cases against two accomplices, Gordon Odell
Stewart and Jimmy Norman Stewart, were handled in federal court.