GOING ONLINE IN THE WAR ON DRUGS

NORRISTOWN -- Montgomery County investigators have a new battleground in
their ongoing war against drug dealers -- cyberspace. Although proud of the
accomplishments of the 421 special county detectives who patrol some of the
county's meanest streets with the Municipal Police Drug Task Force,
District Attorney Bruce L. Castor Jr. has turned to the Internet for help
in tracking down dangerous drug dealers who are trolling the county's
neighborhoods.

Concerned citizens can now provide tips to the task force through a special
Web site at www.montcopa.org/da/drugtaskforce

"We?re doing great things, but we can't do it without the public's help,"
said Deputy District Attorney Kevin R. Steele. "We're using the Internet to
try to facilitate law enforcement."

Steele explained that the anonymity provided by the Internet can be a
useful crime-fighting tool because it may make citizens more comfortable
and willing to provide a tip to law enforcement. Establishing a computer
tip line is an innovative attempt to use the latest technology to enhance
the drug task force?s operations, officials said.

Tips have already been received from the public.

"After we get a tip we investigate the case," said Steele, adding tips are
taken very seriously.

Cracking down on the drug dealers has a positive affect upon society,
Steele said.

"When you look at the affect of drugs on our community, it has a huge
impact," said Steele, indicating drug addictions lead offenders to commit
burglaries, robberies and other crimes in order to feed their dirty habits.

"Eighty-percent of the crimes we prosecute are drug-related in some
fashion," added Steele. "So by arresting and incarcerating those who are
dealing drugs we are making Montgomery County a safer place."

The task force is comprised of officers from 50 police departments
countywide. They work undercover in all communities to combat the scourge
of drugs by providing drug surveillance and conducting drug sting
operations to capture street pushers.

In July 2000, Castor assumed responsibility for the task force and the
State Attorney General?s Office awards the county state grants to operate
it. The state funds are used to help defray the costs of overtime for the
local police officers who assist with drug investigations countywide.

Last month, 30 new special county detectives were sworn-in to become the
latest foot soldiers to wage the war against drugs.

"Each year, the drug task force has expanded and each year's results have
been more impressive than the last," Castor said.

So far this year, the task force has confiscated 19 pounds of marijuana,
5.7 pounds of cocaine, 2.5 ounces of crack cocaine and some methamphetamine
- -- all drugs that would have been sold on the street. The task force, which
has made 153 arrests, also used forfeiture laws to seize 18 weapons, 10
vehicles and more than $60,981 in cash since January.

"Our numbers show that if you deal drugs, we're going to find you, we're
going to arrest you and we're going to put you in jail," Steele said.

During 2004, the task force made 409 arrests and 417 undercover drug
purchases, according to Castor. The task force confiscated a variety of
drugs, including marijuana, barbiturates, designer drugs, like ecstasy,
pharmaceutical pills, heroin, cocaine and methamphetamine, commonly known
as "speed." In 2004, detectives seized 58 weapons, 35 vehicles and $211,635
in cash from the drug dealers.

"Drug dealing is big business. Unfortunately, drugs have a lot of value on
the streets to the people engaged in this illegal activity," Steele said.
"By taking these drugs off the streets we are seriously inhibiting the
dealers from making the money that they would otherwise make."

The cash that is seized and forfeited is used to help fund future drug
investigations.

"We?re using the drug dealers? money to get them and other drug dealers,"
said Steele.

The majority of the weapons seized have been handguns, according to officials.

"Drug dealing is a dangerous business. Many of the people involved in it
are armed. Routinely when we do search warrants, we come in with a large
showing of force because inevitably, those who are dealing drugs inside the
homes are armed and dangerous," Steele said. "Illegal drug activity and
guns go hand in hand."

While cocaine and marijuana continue to be the top drugs of choice of the
dealers, authorities are seeing a new trend - more cases that deal with the
abuse of pharmaceuticals, drugs like the painkiller Oxycontin and the
anti-anxiety drug Xanax.

"What seems to be significantly on the rise are the pharmaceutical drug
cases," Steele said. "Some of these pharmaceuticals are very dangerous."