DOZENS ARRESTED IN NORTH COUNTRY DRUG SWEEP

MALONE, N.Y. - Almost three dozen people were arrested Tuesday for
selling marijuana or prescription drugs paid for by Franklin County
taxpayers through Medicaid, authorities said.

Officers from local, state, county and federal agencies arrested 35
people in Malone, North Bangor, Owls Head, Fort Covington, Moira,
Akwesasne and Constable in northern New York, State Police said. Most
were arraigned and jailed with bail set.

Some were making a living selling prescription drugs they obtained by
exaggerating symptoms to doctors or faking injuries in car accidents,
District Attorney Derek Champagne told the Plattsburgh
Press-Republican.

The drugs included the pain relievers OxyContin and hydrocodone and
methadone. One suspect had a prescription for 120 OxyContin pills
filled Monday at a Saranac Lake pharmacy but had only 46 left when he
was arrested less than 24 hours later, authorities said.