Pubdate: Tue, 16 Apr 2002 Source: Montgomery Advertiser (AL) Copyright: 2002sThe Advertiser Co. Contact: http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1088 Author: Cynthia Yeldell DRUG TASK FORCE HARD AT WORK ELMORE COUNTY -- For the past 12 years, members of the Central Alabama Drug Task Force have been quietly working behind the scenes to keep drugs off the streets in Autauga, Elmore and Chilton counties. Five agents and their commander, Scot Ward, work around the clock with support from local police and sheriff's departments to serve search warrants, conduct undercover surveillance and take down organized crime. Last year the group confiscated nearly $10 million in illegal narcotics in the three counties. "We are a control factor," Ward said. "We are not going to do away with drug crimes, but they (drug dealers) know we are here, and they know they will go to jail in this circuit." Ward, who has been on the task force since its creation, said while marijuana and crack cocaine are common drugs, methamphetamine use is on the rise. Last year, the group found more than 30 meth labs, Ward said. The most recent was in February in Chilton County. The increase may be due to a new "cold cut" method of making meth, Ward said. The process doesn't require volatile ether, and is easier to make. "All the ingredients can be found at Wal-Mart," Ward said. "And the problem is that the labs are so portable. We call them box labs, because you can put them in a box and take off." Ward said in the past decade all three counties have seen growth, and drug trafficking has increased simply because there are more people. However, the percentage of drugs seized has remained constant. Randall Houston, district attorney in the 19th district, said the task force has allowed prosecutors to make stronger cases against drug dealers. "Drug cases were difficult to prosecute because it was one person's word against another," said Houston, who was one of the founders of the task force. "Now we have video tapes and audio tapes that give us a lot stronger case." The group is funded through a combination of federal grants and matching funds from police and sheriff's departments in the three counties. - --- MAP posted-by: Alex