DRUG BUST NEEDS FEDS

Re: "Operation Dunbar," Sept. 8. With 13 arresting agencies, 39
"busted" and $1.3 million estimated value of confiscation it looks
like something important is being done.

Let's focus: Drug-related crimes equal about 50 percent of our
inmates. Drugs cause a rippling effect of pain and suffering
throughout our society, weakening it and destroying our social/cultural fabric.

What good does it really do if we pick up the low-level peddlers who
will use the turnstile system and be out on the street again in six
months or so?

The 10-, 20-, 30-, 40-year Congress people have watched this grow up
around their ears and have done nothing. This problem requires that
laws be written that mandate life in prison to anyone who is
drug-free and sells drugs to dealers or consumers.

It is worse than murder. It needs the appropriate punishment.

Having DEA go abroad to "negotiate" the stoppage of poppy growing has
been useless. We must stop this at home in our own backyard. Working
through the graft and corruption of it all is a job for a special
section of the DEA.

Congress must provide the laws and the funds.

Howard Newhard,

Cape Coral