TASK FORCE KEEPING DRUGS OUT OF IW, SURRY

Law enforcement officials praised last week's arrests of 18 people accused
of drug dealing in Surry and Isle of Wight counties, and they say the bust
has made illegal drugs harder to buy for now.

Details on the arrests are still being kept quiet since one of those
charged hasn't been arrested and the others face court dates.

But local officials who oversee the Pagan River Drug Task Force, the team
responsible for the busts, say the arrests illustrate the value of actively
working to combat drug use and sales.

Since the fall of 1999, the task force has been working in both counties to
try to nab street-level dealers and drug suppliers.

Four officers -- one each from the Smithfield Police Department, Virginia
State Police and the Isle of Wight and Surry sheriff's departments -- make
up the drug unit.

"We just come together and work together," said Bob Stanek, head of the
State Police office that monitors six drug task forces in the area. "We
start with street-level drugs and try to get up the ladder."

There are 26 drug task forces statewide. Local departments kick in the
manpower. Money for undercover officers to make illegal drug buys and run
operations comes from the Virginia Drug Trust Fund, which was set up by the
General Assembly to fund investigations.

Setting up task forces makes it easier for local agencies to combat drug
use and sales. Officers don't have to split time between time-intensive
drug investigations and regular duties. And they can cross city and county
boundaries.

"The 'bad guys' don't have city and county lines," Stanek said.

Having a successful drug task force sends a message to the community, said
Smithfield Police Chief Mark Marshall.

After news broke about last week's arrest, Marshall said drug activity in
the counties slowed considerably.

One informant told police officers that "you couldn't buy a crack rock for
any amount of money right now."

Task force members like to hear that, but they know drug activity will pick
up again soon.

"There's always another dealer ready to step in and replace one who's been
arrested," Marshall said.

Surry County just assigned a deputy to the task force last year, but
already Sheriff Harold Brown said he sees an impact.

"They can do so much more than working individually," Brown said.

Brown works with Marshall, Stanek and Isle of Wight Sheriff C.W. Phelps to
oversee the operations of the task force. Phelps declined to comment on the
impact the group has had on drug activity in Isle of Wight.

Law enforcement officials realize they will never be able to get all drug
activity out of their counties, but they think the task force helps keep
the numbers down.

"It will discourage the dealers from coming," Brown said, "and thinking
they'll get away with it."