PNTF RAIDS FEWER LABS IN 2004

PARKERSBURG - The Parkersburg Narcotics Task Force raided 30
methamphetamine laboratories in 2004. Capt. Rick Woodyard, commander of the
task force, said this number is significantly lower than in previous years.
The task force seized 51.9 grams of methamphetamine worth about $5,100.

"We did 30 labs last year within our area, which was down quite a bit from
the two prior years," Woodyard said.

In fact, the task force was recognized by the Drug Enforcement
Administration as one of two agencies in the nation that significantly
curtailed the production of meth in their area in 2004.

"It's all attributed to the cooperation of local law enforcement, retailers
throughout the area who assist us in identifying people who buy abnormal
amounts of chemicals and citizens who call and advise us of suspicious
activity," Woodyard said.

In addition, the task force's success would not be possible without the
help of local patrol officers, he said.

"A lot of credit goes to the area patrol officers who are stopping vehicles
and recognizing items used in the manufacture of methamphetamine," Woodyard
said. "That goes for all of Wood County law enforcement and the surrounding
counties who all work with us."

In 2004, task force agents were able to work on more cases involving drugs
other than meth because of the reduction in the meth problem.

"Because we curtailed some labs, which took up a considerable amount of
time in previous years, we were able to work on other investigations,"
Woodyard said.

Cocaine continues to be a problem in the Mid-Ohio Valley, Woodyard said. In
2004, the task force seized 211.3 grams of crack cocaine worth about
$8,490. Also, the task force seized 668.75 grams of powder cocaine worth
$25,830.

"As you know, there were two investigations this year, the King case being
one, that significantly curtailed the trafficking of cocaine in our area,"
he said.

Woodyard said the King investigation resulted in the shut down of major
cocaine traffickers.

"That case has to be attributed to the help from the IRS Criminal
Investigation Division," Woodyard said. "Also task force agents Doug Sturm
and Jeff Nohe in particular worked that case very hard. Also, in that case
we had some cooperating individuals who came forward to provide information
that kind of put us over the top in that investigation."

The task force seized 11,948 grams of processed marijuana worth $48,595. In
addition, it recovered 1,171 marijuana plants worth $2,917,000.

"A lot of that was done through the Jackson and Wirt County sheriff's
departments. We worked with them extensively on marijuana eradication
operations," Woodyard said.