OKLA. DRUG TASK FORCES LOSE FEDERAL FUNDS

DURANT -- Drug task forces throughout the nation are government funded by
the Justice Assistance Grant Program. The JAG, as the grant is called, is
distributed to law enforcement programs, prosecution and court programs,
prevention and education programs, corrections and community corrections
programs, drug treatment programs and planning, evaluation and technology
improvement programs.

Bryan County drug task forces recently received the unpleasant news that
the JAG has been drastically reduced. In 2005, Bryan County drug task
forces received approximately $4 million of the $5.5 million represented by
JAG. This year the JAG is worth $2.5 million in which the 23 drug task
forces will receive about $150,000 each.

For years, the task forces operated with funds from two grants, the Edward
Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program and the Local Law
Enforcement Block Grant. In 2004, President Bush, in an effort to cut
spending, wanted to discontinue the grants. This wasn't the only areas
where cutbacks were focused. In a compromise, the two grants were combined
forming the JAG. The amount for this new grant was almost half of the
original two.

Chuck Carroll, field supervisor for the District Attorney's Drug Task Force
in District 19 (in Southern Oklahoma) said, "We got about $5.5 million last
year. About $4 million of that went to drug task forces in the state of
Oklahoma. There are 23 drug task forces in Oklahoma comprising the largest
drug enforcement body. Without this funding, the basic infrastructure
necessary to sustain the gains in the war on crime will be undermined."

This year, Carroll said, they received about $2.5 million, roughly 45
percent less than last year. The average amount for each task force is
$150,000. This money will be disbursed to 23 agencies who average three
agents each. "The pieces of the pie get smaller with everyone receiving
their share, which leaves us about $1.4 million short for the state of
Oklahoma," said Carroll. "Our District Attorney's Council is going to ask
the state legislature to try to fund that $1.4 million to keep the task
forces going in the state of Oklahoma. We're not only talking about losing
equipment, we're talking about losing manpower."

The combined results of Oklahoma's 23 agencies displayed some impressive
numbers for the year 2004. Drug task forces continued investigations in 447
cases while initiating investigations in 2,189 new cases. As a result,
3,849 offenders were arrested and 2,726 offenders were convicted.
Collectively, the drug task forces seized nearly 47 pounds of cocaine, more
than 2,954 pounds of marijuana, almost 3,569 marijuana plants, and 308
pounds of amphetamines and methamphetamine. Nearly 1,141 guns were recovered.

Throughout the year, the drug task forces responded to 5,454 meth labs, 234
meth lab dumpsites and 116 chemical, glassware and meth lab equipment
seizures. The value of the illegal drugs seized was worth approximately
$28,313,000, based on street value information from the Drug Enforcement
Administration.