Pubdate: Thu, 26 Sep 2002 Source: Newsday (NY) Copyright: 2002 Newsday Inc. Contact: http://www.newsday.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/308 Author: Associated Press Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/coke.htm (Cocaine) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?194 (Hutchinson, Asa) DEA DIRECTOR SPEAKS ON DRUG WAR SYRACUSE, N.Y. (AP) -Tighter security at airports and borders since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks has helped lower drug trafficking, said the director of the Drug Enforcement Administration. Asa Hutchinson, the nation's top drug-enforcement officer, told a Syracuse University audience Thursday that sixteen thousand pounds of cocaine were seized at the country's borders in the last six months. When asked by audience members about legalizing drugs, Hutchinson said complete legalization was "irrational and illogical" and would not stop organized crime. "We need to invest in more treatment options," he said. Some in the audience said the war on drugs was a waste of time and resources. Hutchinson said the government's policy was on the right track, and less than 5 percent of Americans use illegal drugs -down by one-third over the last 20 years. "We need to invest in what works," he said, supporting courts for drug offenders and pushing for prison programs helping drug abusers. "And we need treatment in prisons, not just incarceration." Hutchinson said he sees a "clear and long-standing link between terrorism and drugs," noting as examples two Palestinian terrorist groups linked by authorities to the illegal drug trade. Facing allegations that his agency disproportionately targeted minorities, Hutchinson said, "We target traffickers of drugs. ... We should always look at racial fairness." - --- MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager