DRUG DEALERS " RUNNING SCARED," SHERIFF JARVIS SAYS

CANTON, NY --St. Lawrence County's special narcotics unit seized more than
$3 million in illegal street drugs and arrested 67 people on felony charges
last year.

The 13 year old Drug Task Force also has nabbed 10 of the largest powder
and crack cocaine dealers in the county over the two years, according to a
report that Sheriff Gary J. Javis will present to the Board of Legislators
Operations Committee on Monday.

Those dealers all sold several ounces of cocaine a week, Mr. Jarvis wrote
in the report, which was requested during last fall's budget talks by
Legislator Peter W. FitzRandolph, D-Canton.

Lawmakers said at the time they wanted to review all the county's
discretionary programs in the face of tough finances caused by the slow
economy and the events of Sept. 11.

"They had a very successful year," Mr Jarvis said Friday of the task force.
"Right now everything is going fine."

The task force investigated 153 cases last year involving sales of cocaine,
heroin, prescription drugs, Ecstasy(also known as MDMA), psychotropic
mushrooms, hashish and marijuana.

The squad includes three full-time sheriff's deputies who work undercover
buy and bust operations with a budget of $175,699 that is entirely funded
by the county.

Several other agencies assist the task force, including the Ogdensburg City
Police Department; the Massena, Canton, Gouverneur and Potsdam village
police departments; Canton College of Technology police; state troopers and
U.S. Customs, Drug Enforcement Administration and Border Patrol teams.

"We are seeing an effect from the work of the task force," Mr. Jarvis wrote
in his report to lawmakers." "It is getting harder to buy cocaine and other
drugs in St. Lawrence County. Our people are routinely being told when
interviewing people that the dealers are running scared and they are being
more careful."

Legislator Richard P. Wilson, R-Ogdensburg, who voted against the 2000
budget because of his colleagues' refusal at the time to add a third
investigator to the anti-drug squad, said he hoped the task force would not
suffer cuts this year as lawmakers look to order their fiscal priorities.

"I think we have a good plan and I think you're starting to see a lot more
drugs being uncovered up here," he said Friday. "I think it's a workable
dimension at the moment. We've had some successes. Have we eliminated
drugs? No. But you've got to up the cost of operation for people. I would
argue very strenuously toward continuation."

Mr. FitzRandolph could not be reached for comment Saturday.

Drugs seized by the task force last year and their estimated street values
included:

14.4 ounces(403.2 grams) of cocaine with a street value of $100 a gram;
total value $40,320.

38 packets of heroin at $60 a packet; total value $2,280.

1, 971 marijuana plants at $1,500 per plant; total value $2,956,500.

41 methadone pills at $40 a pill; total value $1,230.

20 pounds, 14 ounces of processed marijuana at $300 an ounce; total value
$100,200

17 grams of mushrooms at $10 a gram; total value $170

18.6 ounces (520.8 grams) of hashish at $10 per gram; Total value $5,208
100 "hits" of Ecstasy at $39 a hit; total value $3,000.

89 prescription pills, including Ritalin and Tylenol with codeine, at $2 to
$7 a pill; total value $178 to $623.

The task force also took part in cash seizures and civil forfeitures
totaling $351,000 and seized two motor vehicles, two snowmobiles and seven
all-terrain vehicles with a total value of $75,000.

The squad sharesD cash and property seizures with the other agencies that
work on each bust. County proceeds go into fund that's used to buy drugs
for undercover operations.

"We now have help from various police agencies. We're very happy with
that," Mr. Wilson said. "We have cooperation from the board, and I think
you see the results."

The task force has been the center of controversy before. Former Sheriff
Keith K. Knowlton's proposal to add a third deputy caused a storm of
criticism in 1999, with county lawmakers saying the sheriff's plan was not
cost effective.

Mr. Knowlton fired back by accusing some legislators of being soft on drugs
and under the influence of ReconsiDer, a statewide nonprofit group with a
chapter in Ogdensburg, that promotes decriminalizing drugs and lobbies for
more emphasis on treatment.

ReconsiDer member Lee J. Monnet, town of Oswegatchie, plans to attend
Monday's presentation on the drug task force.

"That has a lot to do with where our tax dollars are going," said Mr.
Monnet, who is seeking the Libertarian Party nomination to run against
Assemblywoman Diedre K. Scozzafava, R-Gouverneur, in November.

Mr. Jarvis said the task force is adequately funded this year, but he would
not rule out asking for more officers if the need arises.

"I'm not looking to increase the staff, at this point," the sheriff said.
"I can't speak for down the road."