FUNDING FUNNELED TO DRUG FORCE

CLANTON - On Wednesday, Alabama Gov. Bob Riley awarded $298,000 to continue the
fight against illegal drugs in Chilton, Autauga and Elmore Counties.

The grant will help in funding the Central Alabama Drug Task Force, which is
made up of the district attorney's office and sheriff's departments in those
three counties.

Also included in the task force are the Clanton, Millbrook, Prattville and
Wetumpka police departments.

"We must aggressively pursue and prosecute drug dealers whether they are in our
major cities or our rural communities," Riley said.

"I commend the efforts of the task force to reduce illegal drug activity."

The task force has initiated or assisted in more than 3,000 drug investigations
since it was started in 1990.

Last year, the task force, assisted by federal, state and local law enforcement
agencies, arrested more than 128 people and confiscated more than $900,000 in
illegal drugs.

The task force also assists other task forces in Alabama in helping reduce the
amount of drug activity in the state. Riley awarded this grant from funds made
available to the state through a program of the U.S. Department of Justice.

The funds are administered through ADECA.