TASK FORCE SETS RECORDS IN THE WAR ON DRUGS

Last year the Seneca County Drug Task Force METRICH-Unit set many
records, including the number of drug cases handled and grams of
cocaine seized, according to an analytical report presented last week
at an annual luncheon for county officials. In 2004, the task force
handled 175 drug cases compared to 139 cases in 2003. The previous
record was 174 cases in 2001.

The amount of cocaine seized by the task force jumped from about 400
grams in 2003 to 924.4 grams last year.

Since 2001, the number of drug cases has been on the rise in Tiffin.

There were about 40 cases in 2001 compared to more than 100 in
2004.

Detective Charles Boyer said the data shows the METRICH-unit has been
very active and successful at getting drugs off the street. However,
the war on drugs is an on-going battle.

"We do the best we can with what we've got," Boyer said. "You're not
going to solve the war on drugs, but you try to have an impact. I
definitelythink we are having an impact."

The dramatic increase in cocaine seized was mostly due to the
struggling economy and the drug raid at the Riverbend Apartments in
October, Boyer said.

The report indicated there were several complaints of bad checks,
breaking and enterings, thefts and burglaries from Riverbend last
year. Ten people were arrested in the raid after it was discovered a
large drug operation was being conducted in the building.

There were also busts on Second Avenue last year that brought in
substantial amounts of cocaine.

Boyer said the task force focused on Tiffin last year after they had
received many complaints about drug activity in the area. There was a
33 percent increase of cases in Tiffin between 2003 and 2004.

In 2001, the task force handled about 120 cases in the Fostoria area
and the number of cases decreased in 2002 to about 70 cases.

Boyer said he hopes this year the number of cases will drop in Tiffin
like they did in Fostoria in 2002.

This year, Boyer said, the task force will continue to monitor drug
activity throughout the county; however, the Fostoria area will be
looked at a little closer like Tiffin was in 2004.

Already this year, the METRICH-unit has handled about 60 cases
including a drug raid this past Thursday in Fostoria. A Toledo man was
arrested in the raid and charged on three felony counts. Crack
cocaine, cocaine, marijuana, drug paraphernalia, criminal tools and
cash were seized during the raid.