FEDERAL FUNDS FUNNELED IN TO FIGHT DRUGS

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Oklahoma ranks among the top four states in the nation in
the number of methamphetamine lab seizures and is one of the national
leaders in the production of the precursor chemicals used in the production
of the drug.

And that's why six Oklahoma counties have been added to the North Texas
High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area -- making the counties eligible for a
share of $250,000 in federal funds to help fight meth production and use,
U.S. Rep. Earnest Istook announced Friday morning at the Oklahoma state
Capitol.

The HIDTA designation will also bring additional federal investigative and
coordination efforts to Oklahoma, Cleveland, Commanche, Muskogee and
Sequoyah counties.

"As important as the money will be in fighting this problem, the increased
coordination between local, state and federal law enforcement agencies may
actually be more important in fighting the methamphetamine problem in
Oklahoma," Istook said.

Istook, R-Warr Acres, was joined for the press conference by National HIDTA
Director Kurt F. Schmid of the White House's Office of National Drug
Control Policy, Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics Director Malcolm Atwood,
Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the Oklahoma Drug Enforcement
Administration Bob Surovec, new FBI Special Agent in Charge in Oklahoma
John Lewis, Oklahoma City Police Chief M.T. Berry and First Assistant U.S.
Attorney Dan Webber.

The money will be funneled to law enforcement agencies through a
reimbursement process directed out of the North Texas HIDTA offices in
Dallas and can be used for specialized training; overtime for HIDTA-related
activities; leasing costs for vehicles; payments for evidence and
information in law enforcement investigations; specialized law enforcement
equipment not normally provided by agencies; leasing fees, maintenance and
other costs for facilities collocating multi-agency HIDTA-funded
initiatives and task forces; and investigative travel.

The program, Schmid said, is designed for the money to enhance combined
enforcement efforts of multiple agencies and coordination between local,
state and federal law enforcement investigators.

Schmid said the selection of the six counties was based on criteria that
included the number of meth lab seizures as a measure of the size of the
problem and the current existence of combined narcotics enforcement efforts
among multiple agencies. Berry said in Oklahoma City alone, officers seized
and processed 193 labs in 2001 and 180 thus far this year.

According to 1999 Drug Enforcement Administration studies, only three other
states have more clandestine meth lab seizures than Oklahoma and total
methamphetamine use in Oklahoma was 42 percent higher than the national
average and 80 percent higher among persons 24 to 36.

Webber offered one example of the severity of the problem.

He said the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Oklahoma
prosecuted one case last year in which the amount of sudafedren -- a major
component of methamphetamine -- that was funneled through one Oklahoma
beauty shop was greater than the amount used by the makers of the
commercial cold medicine Sudafed.

"Meth labs and meth use are major problems in Oklahoma and it's expensive
to combat them," Istook said. "This HIDTA designation gives Oklahoma
significant new help to fight meth and other illegal drugs. I'm thrilled
that we've got some help out of the way for Oklahoma."

Officials said Oklahoma has tried unsuccessfully twice before to get HIDTA
designation.

The third time was the charm, Webber said, because of Istook's involvement
and because of Oklahoma's inclusion in the North Texas HIDTA.

The Office of National Drug Control Policy processed Oklahoma's most recent
application in just three months -- a process that normally takes 18
months, Istook said in thanking Schmid for the White House's quick response.

The ONDCP decided that because of Oklahoma's central location, it has
national impact on drug trafficking and drug availability in other parts of
the country.

Istook also noted that the ONDCP's funding comes through the House
Appropriations Subcommittee on Treasury, Postal and General Government,
which he chairs.