COMBINED EFFORTS HAVE HURT DRUG INDUSTRY

It seems the stories roll out every week with the same headlines:
"Four arrested on drug charges," "Meth lab busted up," or "Local man
faces drug charges." The only difference is the names of the suspects.

For the past few months, Chilton County citizens have seen story
after story about efforts of local law enforcement on the drug
industry - but a difference is being made.

"We have been told from drug dealers that they had to move their
operations outside of the county because we were cracking down too
much," said Chilton County Sheriff Billy Wayne Fulmer. "We may not be
cutting down on the usage but we are definitely making tougher on
those who deal and produce drugs in the county."

Fulmer's comments come just weeks after a Chilton County Grand Jury
indicted more than 70 suspects, a majority of them facing
drug-related charges. But the problem still exists.

"We still have a awfully bad problem with meth production," Fulmer
said. "But we have begun to educate the public on what to look for
and they are helping us out tremendously."

With most of the ingredients need to manufacture methamphetamine
available at local grocery and drug stores, citizen involvement is
key to any war on drugs. "We rely on the input and tips provided to
us by the citizens," Fulmer said. "We get calls all the time tipping
us off about people who may be dealing or manufacturing drugs.

"And the only way they feel they can tell us that information is
because they have come to trust us." While the problem of usage and
manufacturing, Fulmer sees some advancement in the fight.

"We have made a huge dent in the business," Fulmer said. "It is our
goal to cause these drug dealers and meth producers as much pain and
frustration as they cause the family members of their users."

Fulmer also credits the working relationship between his deputies and
investigators and the Central Alabama Drug Task Force.

"The two departments make a good coalition against the drug
industry," Fulmer said. "We respect each other and enjoy working with
the other when it comes to fighting the drug problem in Chilton
County."

The past two grand juries have issued a heavy amount of indictments
on drug related cases, a fact Fulmer attributes to the working
relationship between local law enforcement and the people of Chilton
County.