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.
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