DA: WARS ON DRUGS, TERRORISTS THE SAME

Fourth District Attorney Jerry Jones has asked the Ouachita Parish Office
of Emergency Preparedness to include drug interdiction as part of its
anti-terrorism training.

In a letter to Tom Malmay, director of the Ouachita Parish Office of
Emergency Preparedness, Jones said the terms "terrorist" and "terrorism"
should include those who traffic in drugs and narcotics.

"From media sources, it seems obvious to me that the major terrorist groups
operate in this country and elsewhere on proceeds from the end sales of
drugs and narcotics," Jones said in the letter. "One of the best and most
efficient ways to counter this nuisance from drug sales is to try to
suppress such activities on a local level."

Jones said he hopes future anti-terrorism training will include officers
from Metro Narcotics Unit in Ouachita Parish.

"They (Metro) have the expertise and should be included in any
anti-terrorism training," Jones said Wednesday. "Who else better to combat
terrorists than those who work undercover with drug dealers on a daily basis."

Metro Narcotics Commander Hank Smith said his unit would welcome the
additional training.

"We always want to stay fresh and abreast of new ideas," Smith said. "We've
got 11 young, energetic guys who are some of the best narcotics agents in
the business and want to stay that way."

Smith said additional training would have to be scheduled around Metro's
work schedule.

"We don't work typical 9-to-5 or eight-hour shifts," Smith said. "We work
the same schedules the drug dealers work."

Malmay said the letter he received from Jones came as no surprise.

"We had been anticipating the letter," Malmay said. "I've prepared a
document for review that incorporates what Mr. Jones asked about and
forwarded it to local elected officials and my supervisor in Baton Rouge
for review."

Malmay said his office's role is to provide training options to officials.

As for tying drug sales to terrorism, Malmay said one need look no further
than the news to see the connection.

"Last year when Bonita had to be evacuated that was because of drug
dealers," Malmay said. "And I saw last week where drug dealers were busted
and had assault weapons with them. Both of those events could be described
as terrorist-related."

Bonita was evacuated Oct. 1 when someone tapped an anhydrous ammonia tank
and caused a leak. Anhydrous ammonia is used to make fertilizer and is the
main ingredient in most methamphetamine recipes.