ROGERS, FEDERAL DRUG CZAR KICK OFF UNITE PROGRAM

HAZARD Street-level drug dealers in eastern Kentucky are the prime
target of an innovative new $8 million program unveiled Monday by
state and federal leaders.

Director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy
John P. Walters joined U.S. Rep. Hal Rogers, R-Somerset, at the Rural
Law Enforcement Technology Center in Hazard for the announcement of
the new program called Operation UNITE.

UNITE, an acronym for Unlawful Narcotics Investigation Treatment and
Education, is a three-pronged attack on the local drug problem and
covers the 29 counties in Rogers' district, including Lawrence, Rowan,
Martin and Johnson.

"This is what we need more of," Walters said. "This is leadership
working, this is people working on what is obviously a deadly problem."

Drug arrests have skyrocketed in eastern Kentucky in the past few
years, with the number of arrests for methamphetamine and illegal
prescription drugs nearly tripling, according to Walters' office.

"The drug epidemic is by far the most dangerous problem we've ever
faced in southern and eastern Kentucky," Rogers said. "UNITE is
bringing together leaders from all aspects of society to tackle this
crisis head-on."

UNITE will put the majority of its money, about $5 million, into
identifying, arresting and prosecuting local dealers. This includes
developing task forces in three area development districts - Big
Sandy, Kentucky River and Cumberland Valley - that will focus on drug
confiscation and undercover operations. An undercover agent will be
assigned in each of the 29 counties. Six roving special prosecutors
will work with local commonwealth's attorneys to speed prosecution,
U.S. Attorney Gregory F. Van Tatenhove said.

Another $1.8 million will help finance drug courts in the 29 counties
and $200,000 will be for community drug-education programs.

Walters said he is not aware of another initiative like UNITE anywhere
else in the nation.

UNITE's budget comes mostly from an $8 million Department of Justice
grant, with $1 million coming from the Center for Rural Development
and $605,000 from Eastern Kentucky University.

Louisa Police Chief Kevin Adkins said he hopes UNITE can help the city
cope with its record-number of narcotics arrests.

"Any help that we can get will be a blessing," he said.

He said the undercover agents, who will probably be hired next year,
will be of particular benefit to the city.

"It is impossible for us to do any undercover work because it's such a
small town and everybody knows us. They'd be a fool to sell to us,"
Adkins said.