DRUG BUST FUNDS

THE WAR AGAINST drugs is a vitally important one in our society, and
law enforcement agencies need all the help they can get in fighting
drugs.

We very much appreciate laws that have been written to allow the
government seizure of money, vehicles and property that have been
obtained through the distribution of illegal drugs.

The Lubbock County Sheriff's Office recently was the recipient of
$87,437 that had been earned illegally by a drug ring that sold heroin
and cocaine.

Sheriff1s deputies initiated an investigation into the ring. Seven
members of the ring have been sentenced to federal prison. At the time
of the arrests, investigators seized more than $154,000 in cash that
was found in the back yard of one of the suspects and about $14,000 in
other cash. The Drug Enforcement Administration recently presented the
sheriff1s office with a check for $87,437. The money will be used to
help the sheriff1s office help its law enforcement operations.

We are pleased with the cooperation between the DEA and the sheriff1s
office in breaking up the drug ring. It speaks well of local law
enforcement.

And we are appreciative of the fact that drug money that was hidden
underground will be used to fight crime. That is a fitting place for
money that was made through the misery and destruction of others.