GUMPTION AT DEA

Failed Drug Raid Wasn't Total Loss

You have to admire the gumption of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration
and its associates in the Horry County, Atlantic Beach and North Myrtle
Beach police departments. Officers from the agencies came up dry Thursday
in their drug-paraphernalia raid on the 4:20 Superstore in Atlantic Beach,
having apparently been given bum information. At that point, most other
government folks (a line of work not known for creativity) would have said,
"Well, that didn't work out," and left the scene.

Instead, the drug agents said, "Hey, we have those drug-sniffing dogs from
the NMB canine unit with us. As long as we're here, why not search some
cars at random?" Not even the knowledge that the U.S. Supreme Court is
considering a case with potential to ban warrantless, no-probable-cause
random canine searches of motor vehicles could deter these intrepid law
enforcers from seeking something to show for their efforts.

This extra initiative netted three arrests under S.C. law (the officers
found nothing that violates federal drug laws) for possession of controlled
substances. True, the searches could also net the agencies in question
American Civil Liberties Union lawsuits for violation of the Fourth
Amendment prohibition against unreasonable searches and seizures. But
perhaps the drug agents figured that even if the drug busts get overturned,
their agencies still would look good. Lots of folks hate the ACLU.

We'll all sleep better knowing that the DEA and its local affiliates are
sweeping small-time drug users off the streets. Right?