Pubdate: Fri, 06 Aug 2004 Source: Clarion-Ledger, The (MS) Copyright: 2004 The Clarion-Ledger Contact: http://www.clarionledger.com/about/letters.html Website: http://www.clarionledger.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/805 Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/coke.htm (Cocaine) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/oxycontin.htm (Oxycontin/Oxycodone) DRUG ARRESTS UP 39% FOR 1ST HALF OF '04 Increase attributed to MBN restructuring, improved agency interaction Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics drug arrests for the first half of the year are up 39 percent over the same period last year, state officials said Thursday. It is the largest increase in three years. Public Safety Commissioner Rusty Fortenberry and Bureau of Narcotics Director George Phillip attribute part of the increase to restructuring MBN under the Department of Public Safety. Better interaction with local law enforcement agencies also was cited as a reason for the increase in drug crime arrests. "We still have a lot of work to do, but we're working more efficiently together and with local officials," Phillips said during a news conference at the DPS' headquarters in Jackson, where officials displayed seized contraband, including cocaine, marijuana, methamphetamine and guns. "We're making significant strides fighting drug crimes." For the first half of 2004, officials said there were 1,435 drug arrests statewide. In the same period in 2003, there were 1,034 arrests. "That's the right kind of start," said Gov. Haley Barbour. This week, 38 people were arrested on felony drug charges in Union County. Sheriff Tommy Wilhite said sweep of arrests - which started about 3:15 a.m. Monday - culminated a yearlong investigation by his office, the New Albany Police Department and the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics. Wilhite said 15 more arrests are possible, with 83 charges filed against 53 people. The cases will be presented to a grand jury this fall. Asked if the arrests make Union County safer, Wilhite said in a phone interview: "I think we'll be good for a couple of weeks. Those that we did not get who were selling drugs will be leery to who they sell drugs to." But, he said the illegal drug trade always finds a way to pop back up, even after arrests. "It's too easy money," he said. In Jackson, MBN agent Frank Altieri said the agency now has four officers investigating abuse of pharmaceutical drugs. That's up from one agent previously. "Pharmaceutical abuse is a nationwide problem," Altieri said. Altieri said he and the three other officers look for patients who go from one doctor to another seeking prescriptions for narcotic painkillers like OxyContin, which is highly addictive. The officers also look for possible abuse by doctors, pharmacists or other health care providers. - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin