NARCOTICS BUREAU LEADER GIVES STATE ULTIMATUM ON CUTS

Don Strange has a message for state lawmakers: Restore funding for the
Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics or find someone else to run the
agency. "I don't think you can cut almost $4 million out of the budget
for drug enforcement and have it not hurt," said Strange. "The people
of Mississippi had better get their priorities straight on drug
traffic. You have no business in hiring a guy with my qualifications
if you are not going to give me the tools to fight the war on drugs."

The bureau's director, along with some 250 of the law enforcement
agency's employees and assorted dignitaries, was in Hattiesburg
Tuesday for the bureau's annual meeting at the Lake Terrace Convention
Center. Strange didn't mince words in describing the financial
struggles the bureau has faced this year after a 15 percent
across-the-board budget cut for state agencies.

"We're roughly at the salary point right now with this year's budget,"
said Strange. "We can pay salaries, but I don't know if there is
enough money left to turn on the lights and put gas in the cars."

Strange said the Mississippi Legislature has cut the bureau's funding
by $2.6 million in 2000 and another $1.1 million this year.

Media focus on Pine Belt

Strange is completing his second year on the job after returning to
his home state following his retirement from the U.S. Drug Enforcement
Agency. Despite the financial setbacks, he said state narcotics
officers are winning big battles against drug manufacturers and
distributors.

The Pine Belt has been a particular target in recent weeks,
particularly because of production and sale of crystal
methamphetamine. Agents seized a suspected drug lab Saturday that the
agency says may be the largest found by law enforcement in the state
so far.

"I think we're starting to see a difference," said Randy Johnson of
Hattiesburg, a bureau spokesman. "We got a $1 million grant from the
federal government this year just to fight meth, and we have a group
of officers working nothing but the meth traffic."

Johnson pointed to recent busts in Perry County and Jefferson Davis
County as examples of the bureau's work to curb the meth trade.

"There are an overwhelming number of people in this state doing meth,
as opposed to crack or cocaine," Johnson said. "It's killing people
daily - bottom line."

Lt. Gov. Amy Tuck provided the keynote address for the meeting,
likening the bureau's agents to American soldiers fighting terrorism
overseas.

"You are fighting an enemy who doesn't wear a uniform, or any other
identifying clothing, an enemy who is not of any particular
socio-economic group, an enemy who doesn't take credit for its
actions, and one that has no pride and no parameters," Tuck told the
gathering.

"You are on the front lines in Mississippi every day fighting the war
on drugs. You are soldiers going into battle for us, just like the
troops in Afghanistan."

Tuck said the bureau had thwarted over 40 major drug operations in the
past year, including some high-level dealers, and that sends a message
for drug traffickers to, "stay out of Mississippi."

Strange said his agency has had a banner year in spite of the budget
constraints.

"For the first time, we're starting to see a difference in the
availability of drugs in Mississippi," said Strange. "We've had three
(busts) in a row of major drug traffickers, where people at the top
level are being removed from the drug trade. That's tons of marijuana
and kilos of cocaine. If we keep up this pressure, you'll see a real
drop in the drug trade next year."

Restore bureau's funding

One area representative said he will do what he can to restore the
bureau's funding when the 2002 Session opens next month.

"Funding is always an issue," said state Rep. Joey Fillingane,
R-Sumrall. "We have to look at the new field offices that have to be
manned, and we must constantly maintain funding to keep good trained
officers working in Mississippi, instead of going off to other states
or to the DEA after a few years."

One of Tuck's official duties as lieutenant governor is to serve as
the president of the state Senate, and that gives her a big voice in
legislative funding priorities, and she says she will do her best to
get the bureau adequate funding.

"Once we see (after the first of the year) if the economy is going to
come around, then we'll be able to go in and set priorities based on
that," said Tuck. "Certainly the war on drugs is a priority. There are
some vital (state) services that must be adequately funded: protection
of our citizens, a safe environment and health issues, and the war on
drugs certainly falls in that area."

Fillingane said another drug enforcement priority for lawmakers in the
coming session will be to toughen laws against the illegal abuse of
prescription drugs.

Gov. Ronnie Musgrove is on a trip to Korea and Bosnia this week and
was unavailable for comment, said John Sewell, a spokesman for
Musgrove's office.

The bureau's annual meeting allows drug enforcement personnel to come
together for some training, conducted on Tuesday by Al Jernigan,
assistant U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Mississippi. It
also provides some good fellowship and a chance to honor significant
achievements in the bureau from the previous year.

"We get a chance to see people we hadn't seen in awhile," said
Johnson. "It's camaraderie, a way to get together and celebrate the
fact that we made it through another year without any fatalities (in
the line of duty).

"Every person here gives 110 percent every day, through the long hours
and low pay, for the people of this state. There are 200 dedicated
people here today that I'm proud to be a part of."