DRUG TRACKING FUNDS FLOW INTO DONA ANA COUNTY

LAS CRUCES -- More Federal Anti-Drug Dollars Are Expected to Flow Into
Dona Ana County.

U.S. Senator Pete Domenici joined the Senate Appropriations Committee
in approving an increase in funding for the High Intensity Drug
Trafficking Area program that provides anti-drug trafficking
assistance to 16 New Mexico counties.

The committee on Thursday approved $235 million for the HIDTA program,
which is $10.2 million over FY2007 funding and $15 million over the
president's budget request. The funding is included in the FY2008
Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Bill, which
is now ready for consideration by the full Senate.

Domenici on Wednesday reported that the Office of National Drug
Control Policy (ONDCP) has agreed to free grant funding that had been
suspended this spring for New Mexico's participation in the Southwest
Border HIDTA.

"The HIDTA program is working to help local law enforcement be
equipped and trained to take on illegal drug trafficking. The intent
of our bill is to increase federal funding for this program and its
involvement at the local level," Domenici said.

The bill also includes report language intended to maintain stable
funding for existing HIDTAs. The Southwest Border HITDA consists of
New Mexico, Texas, Arizona and California. New Mexico generally
receives between $5 million and $7 million in HIDTA funding annually.

In New Mexico, 16 counties are now part of the HIDTA program. Last
year, Domenici successfully convinced the ONDCP to add Sandoval,
Valencia and Torrance counties--all surrounding the Albuquerque
metropolitan area--to the HIDTA program. Other counties include:
Bernalillo, Chaves, Dona Ana, Eddy, Grant, Hidalgo, Lea, Lincoln,
Luna, Otero, Rio Arriba, San Juan and Santa Fe.