TERRORISM, DRUGS CHALLENGE U.S. ATTORNEY

David Dugas took the job as U.S. attorney for the Middle District of
Louisiana intending to pursue public corruption and white collar crime.

Instead, Dugas told the Baton Rouge Press Club Monday, terrorism and
methamphetamines have emerged as critical issues since he took office in
October.

Less than a week after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, U.S. Attorney
General John Ashcroft ordered every federal district to establish an
Anti-Terrorism Task Force.

Fighting terrorism is now the top priority for U.S. attorneys, Dugas said.

Trying to find evidence of such activity to prevent further attacks is a
somewhat different role for law enforcement, which most often responds to
crimes after they occur, he said.

He said no evidence of terrorist activity has been uncovered in the Middle
District, which covers East Baton Rouge, Ascension, East Feliciana,
Iberville, Livingston, Pointe Coupee, St. Helena, West Baton Rouge and West
Feliciana parishes. "We would like to keep it that way," he said.

Dugas said in the past few months, the local production of the illegal drug
methamphetamine, or speed, has been shown to be a growing problem.

Meth labs, where the drug is made illegally, were practically non-existent
in this area until last fall.

In the past five months, 28 labs have been found in Livingston, St. Helena
and Tangipahoa parishes, he said. "That's a new one," Dugas said. "It's a
rising problem in Louisiana, particularly in the Middle District.

"It's going to be a big problem," he said. "It's going to be an epidemic."

Dugas said the drug, which provides a much longer high than crack cocaine,
is addictive and deadly. It can cause raise temperatures to as high as 108
degrees and cause seizures and paranoia.

In addition to the work he didn't expect, Dugas said, he still is pursuing
the corruption-related cases he had in mind when he took the job.

"I know what the reputation of this state is to other states," he said.

Dugas said he is waiting for an FBI report in the investigation of drug
trafficking, political corruption and prostitution that led to the arrest
last summer of several people on drug and prostitution counts.

Among those arrested was Jeffrey Carl Richardson, a business associate and
friend of state House Speaker Charles DeWitt.

No one involved in that case has been indicted in either state or federal court.