SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT DESTROYS SEIZED DRUGS

Deputies with the Hamilton County Sheriff's Department hauled $2.5 million
of confiscated drugs to a local foundry to be burned Wednesday morning.

"This represents a lot of sleepless nights and blood, sweat and tears,"
said Lt. Tommy Farmer of the narcotics and special operations division.

The drugs from about 2,400 criminal cases -- everything from 10-pound
blocks of marijuana to various pills and methamphetamine -- have
accumulated in the department's property room since 1993, Sheriff John Cupp
said.

"The reason for the long delay was the Environmental Protection Agency had
a problem with open burning," Sheriff Cupp said. "We wanted to make sure we
were within their guidelines."

Breaking the rules on open drug burns could cost the department $70,000 in
fines, Capt. David Hamby said. In the past, it would take deputies all day
to burn the dope in an open pit at the landfill, he said.

"The EPA doesn't want PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls) from the burning
plastic bags that the dope is in released into the atmosphere," he said.
"We will take this down to a local foundry, and the fire is so hot,
everything is just vaporized."

Jenneth Randall, a staff auditor with Hamilton County government, made sure
the 87 boxes were properly accounted for before they were destroyed at
Wheland Foundry.

"We checked each box and made sure that it did, indeed, have drugs in
them," Ms. Randall said.

Hamilton County General Sessions Court Judge Clarence Shattuck signed a
court order to destroy the drugs.