TASK FORCE UNITES DEA, LOCAL COPS

FT. WAYNE, INDIANA - Drug Enforcement Administration agents here have
emerged from their inconspicuous basement office with an aggressive
plan to catch northeastern Indiana's biggest drug dealers.

The DEA hopes a new multiagency task force will generate cases for the
first federal prosecutor assigned to the 12-county area around Ft.
Wayne.

"Areas like Ft. Wayne we can have an impact on," said Herk Lightcap,
the DEA agent in charge for Indiana. "We need to send a message to
traffickers: It's not going to be business as usual."

Area police have lobbied for a higher federal profile in the drug war
since the DEA first opened an office here 18 months ago in the city's
federal building.

The task force, announced late last month, will concentrate on
reducing crack cocaine-related violence, slowing the increased
methamphetamine trade and nabbing traffickers bringing large amounts
of drugs into the area, Lightcap said.

The task force also will provide help to departments that are
minimally staffed.

The federal presence helps local police departments stem the drug
flow, authorities said. Cases brought in federal courts can place
dealers behind bars longer and with less chance of parole. The DEA
also has deeper pockets to set up drug buys and has a national and
international link to drug trafficking information.