DRUG TASK FORCE ARRESTS 855 IN '98

32-member group details activities

The Dane County Narcotics and Gangs Task Force made 855 arrests last year,
leading to 680 criminal charges for drug offenses alone, according to its
annual report.

Of the drug charges, 198 were for possession of powder or crack cocaine,
possession with intent to deliver or delivery, the task force said in the
report, released Friday.

Task force arrests also led to 186 criminal charges for marijuana
possession last year, and. 123 for possessing drug paraphernalia.

A total of 85 charges were flied in 1998 for marijuana possession with
intent to deliver, delivery or manufacture, the report showed.

The 32-member task force is made up of officers from the Dane County
Sheriff's Office and the Madison, Fitchburg and University of
Wisconsin-Madison police departments. -

Last year 5 arrest figures were down from 1997's total of 1,O56. Weapon
charges, meanwhile, were about constant - 32 last year, compared to 35 in
1997, the report shows. .

Nine criminal charges were is-sued for heroin possession, possession with
intent to deliver or delivery.

Task force officers also seized about $1 million worth of illegal drugs
last year, including 1,2 17 grams of crack, 664 grams of powder cocaine,
1,921 ounces of marijuana and 16.2 grams of heroin.