DRUG WAR CONTINUES

Lab busts are down, but the amount of methamphetamine being seized by
the South Central Iowa Drug Task Force (SCIDTF) is rising.

Only 60 grams of the illegal drug were seized in 2004. The drug task
force confiscated 160 grams in 2005. So far this year, the amount of
meth seized stands at 1,600 grams -- abut 4 pounds.

These figure were released Thursday during drug awareness press
conference sponsored by the South Central Iowa Drug Task Force and
area law enforcement agencies.

According to Centerville Police Chief Dan Howington, this shows the
importance of continued funding of drug enforcement efforts on a local
level -- much which has been funded by the Byrne-JAG Grant -- which is
administered at the federal level through the Bureau of Justice
Assistance (BJA) within the Justice Department.

New state laws making it more difficult to obtain ingredients for
making meth appear to be working -- at least to cut the number of meth
labs producing the drug. In 2004, 27 meth labs were seized and
dismantled. That dropped to 12 meth labs in 2005 and now stands at
five for the first eight months of 2006.

Because local manufacturing has been suppressed, said Howington, the
result is that more meth is being transported into the state. The drug
is more likely to be discovered during transit than if made and
consumed on private property, he said, which explains the huge jump in
meth seizures.

According to statistics supplied by SCIDTF, the amount of cocaine
seized has also increased: 2004, 6 grams; 2005. 35 grams; and 2006 to
date, 59 grams.

The number of search warrants fluctuated only slightly, with 34 served
in 2005, 38 in 2006 and 24 to date for 2006.

Drug endangered children investigations, those were the parents or
caregivers were manufacturing, distributing or using illegal drugs in
the residence, numbered 60 in 2004, 140 in 2005, and 33 to date in
2006.

History of the South Central Iowa Drug Task Force

The South Central Iowa Drug Task Force was established in 1998 when
the Appanoose County Sheriff's Office, Wayne County Sheriff's Office
and Centerville Police Department determined a need for the
establishment of a dedicated officer for the investigations into drug
related cases in their jurisdictions.

In 1999, the Centerville Police Department applied for and received a
Byrne Grant to offset the officer who was dedicated for the drug
investigations. The Byrne Grant was designed to allow an agency to
assign an officer to investigate drug offenses while not penalizing
the parent agency with a manpower shortage. This resulted in the
parent agency being able to replace the drug officer's position on the
street while still investigating drug cases.

In 2000, the State of Iowa saw a need to help local law enforcement
and established the 18-County Methamphetamine Laboratory Task Force.
That task force was comprised of members of the Iowa Division of
Narcotics Enforcement, local police departments, sheriff deputies and
an analyst from the Iowa National Guard. That task force was made
possible through Sen. Tom Harkin, when he obtained federal money that
was earmarked by him to assist the State of Iowa in its battle against
methamphetamine and the clandestine laboratories within the state.

In 2003, the South Central Iowa Drug Task Force increased in size when
Lucas County, Monroe County and the Albia Police Department were added
after it was determined aid was needed for their departments.

With the passage of the strictest methamphetamine precursor law in the
nation, the number of methamphetamine clandestine labs in the state
was drastically reduced, resulting in the reduction of the money
funding the 18 County Task Force. It was disbanded in early 2006, with
the South Central Iowa Drug Task Force again increasing in size from
four counties to the present 10 counties.

Law enforcement officials said they realized that even though the
number of meth labs in the state was reduced, the demand for the drug
was still there. With the assistance of the Byrne-JAG Grant, funding
was obtained to allow for this expansion without creating a hardship
to local or state agencies.

At the present time, the South Central Iowa Drug Task force covers the
following counties: Appanoose, Wayne, Monroe, Lucas, Marion, Decatur,
Ringgold, Clarke, Union and Madison. Included also in the task force
are the cities of Centerville, Albia, Corydon, Chariton, Osceola,
Creston and Winterset.

Officers from the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, Centerville
Police Department, Creston Police Department and Marion County
Sheriff's Office who investigate the drug cases in this area currently
staff the South Central Iowa Drug Task Force. The South Central Iowa
Drug Task Force works closely with the local prosecutors in their
task-force area, as well as with the Drug Enforcement Administration,
US Attorney's Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms.