LOCAL DRUG CONTROL TASK FORCE HONORED AS NATION'S BEST UNIT

Metairie Program Coordinates Efforts

The White House has awarded top honors to the Metairie-based Gulf Coast
High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area staff, naming it the best such task
force in the country.

Local officials from the federally supported, multiagency program, known as
HIDTA, received a plaque and trophy recognizing the Gulf Coast office as
the Outstanding HIDTA of the Nation for 2001. The White House Office of
National Drug Control Policy handed out the award at the national HIDTA
conference last week in Washington.

The award was a crowning accomplishment for David Knight, who has run the
Gulf Coast headquarters since it opened in 1997. Knight is stepping down
from the post today, and Deputy Director Tony Soto will succeed him.

The task force covers 12 parishes and counties in Louisiana, Alabama and
Mississippi, and has a $6.65 million budget.

The Gulf Coast is one of 28 HIDTA regions with task forces to coordinate
and support drug control efforts among local, state and federal law
enforcement agencies.

Fifteen other awards were handed out to other HIDTA offices for breaking up
drug rings, seizing dealers' assets and other achievements. The Gulf Coast
office won the highest award for demonstrating excellence at every level
and cooperation among agencies and for technical innovations.