LOCAL AGENCIES GET STATE GRANTS TO COMBAT SPREAD OF METH

Six law enforcement agencies serving Kane, DuPage and Will counties
are among 28 agencies that will share in $5.3 million in federal
funding earmarked to fight the production, distribution and use of
methamphetamine and other illegal narcotics.

Gov. Rod Blagojevich, who announced the funding last week, also said
a new database developed by the Illinois Criminal Justice Information
Authority will help plug gaps in the national information network
tracking the rampant methamphetamine problem.

Funding from the federal Anti-Drug Abuse Act and the Justice
Assistance Grant will help 28 state law enforcement agencies in 66
Illinois counties, according to a statement from Blagojevich's office.

The Kane County state's attorney's office will receive $143,967 in
funding under the program, while the North Central Narcotics Task
Force, serving Kane, McHenry and DeKalb counties, will receive $139,670.

The DuPage County state's attorney's office is being awarded
$156,415, with the DuPage County MEG drug enforcement group in line
for $145,625.

The Will County state's attorney's office will receive $132,528 in
funding. The Joliet Metropolitan Area Narcotics Squad, which serves
Grundy and Will counties, will get $139,644.

All 28 agencies will use the money to develop strategies to combat
the production and abuse of methamphetamine and other narcotics, the
statement indicated.

Those agencies made a total of 3,470 drug-related arrests last year
that have resulted in 2,233 convictions to date, the statement said.
They also identified and closed down 954 clandestine methamphetamine
laboratories and seized 166,583 grams of the drug last year, the statement said.