News (Media Awareness Project) - US MS: Drug Arrests Up for First Half of This Year |
| Title: | US MS: Drug Arrests Up for First Half of This Year |
| Published On: | 2004-08-06 |
| Source: | Hattiesburg American (MS) |
| Fetched On: | 2008-01-18 03:03:43 |
DRUG ARRESTS UP FOR FIRST HALF OF THIS YEAR
JACKSON - Cooperation among state and local law enforcement agencies
is increasing the number of drug arrests in Mississippi, officials
say.
Gov. Haley Barbour said Thursday that Mississippi had 39 percent more
drug arrests in the first half of 2004 than during the same period a
year ago.
"That's the right kind of start," said Republican Barbour, who took
office in January.
Earlier this year, the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics was absorbed
into the state Department of Public Safety. Directors of both groups
say the change has increased cooperation to build cases against drug
dealers.
During a news conference at the DPS' headquarters in Jackson, the
agencies displayed some of the illegal drugs confiscated in raids -
dirty white chunks of methamphetamine from Gulfport and Hattiesburg,
green Ecstasy pellets from Richland, plastic-wrapped blocks of cocaine
from Yazoo County.
For the first half of 2004, officials said there were 1,435 drug
arrests statewide. In the same period in 2003, there were 1,034 arrests.
This week, 38 people were arrested on felony drug charges in Union
County. Sheriff Tommy Wilhite said the sweep of arrests - which
started about 3:15 a.m. Monday - culminated a yearlong investigation
by his office, the New Albany Police Department and the Mississippi
Bureau of Narcotics.
Wilhite said 15 more arrests are possible, with 83 charges filed
against 53 people. The cases will be presented to a grand jury this
fall.
Asked if the arrests make Union County safer, Wilhite said in a phone
interview: "I think we'll be good for a couple of weeks. Those that we
did not get who were selling drugs will be leery to who they sell
drugs to." But, he said the illegal drug trade always finds a way to
pop back up, even after arrests.
"It's too easy money," he said.
In Jackson, MBN agent Frank Altieri said the agency now has four
officers investigating abuse of pharmaceutical drugs. That's up from
one agent previously.
"Pharmaceutical abuse is a nationwide problem," Altieri said.
JACKSON - Cooperation among state and local law enforcement agencies
is increasing the number of drug arrests in Mississippi, officials
say.
Gov. Haley Barbour said Thursday that Mississippi had 39 percent more
drug arrests in the first half of 2004 than during the same period a
year ago.
"That's the right kind of start," said Republican Barbour, who took
office in January.
Earlier this year, the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics was absorbed
into the state Department of Public Safety. Directors of both groups
say the change has increased cooperation to build cases against drug
dealers.
During a news conference at the DPS' headquarters in Jackson, the
agencies displayed some of the illegal drugs confiscated in raids -
dirty white chunks of methamphetamine from Gulfport and Hattiesburg,
green Ecstasy pellets from Richland, plastic-wrapped blocks of cocaine
from Yazoo County.
For the first half of 2004, officials said there were 1,435 drug
arrests statewide. In the same period in 2003, there were 1,034 arrests.
This week, 38 people were arrested on felony drug charges in Union
County. Sheriff Tommy Wilhite said the sweep of arrests - which
started about 3:15 a.m. Monday - culminated a yearlong investigation
by his office, the New Albany Police Department and the Mississippi
Bureau of Narcotics.
Wilhite said 15 more arrests are possible, with 83 charges filed
against 53 people. The cases will be presented to a grand jury this
fall.
Asked if the arrests make Union County safer, Wilhite said in a phone
interview: "I think we'll be good for a couple of weeks. Those that we
did not get who were selling drugs will be leery to who they sell
drugs to." But, he said the illegal drug trade always finds a way to
pop back up, even after arrests.
"It's too easy money," he said.
In Jackson, MBN agent Frank Altieri said the agency now has four
officers investigating abuse of pharmaceutical drugs. That's up from
one agent previously.
"Pharmaceutical abuse is a nationwide problem," Altieri said.
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