Pubdate: Fri, 09 Jan 2009
Source: Reno Gazette-Journal (NV)
Copyright: 2009 Reno Gazette-Journal
Contact: http://www.rgj.com/helpdesk/news/letter_to_editor.php
Website: http://www.rgj.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/363
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RENO POLICE UNIT SEIZES $1.1 MILLION IN DRUGS IN FIST YEAR

The Reno police drug unit seized more than $1.1 million  in illegal 
drugs and $177,714 and made 56 felony and 12  misdemeanor arrests in 
its first year, officials said  Thursday.

The Drug Interdiction Unit was organized in January  2008, said Sgt. 
Mac Venson, unit supervisor. Two  officers are in the unit.

"They are incredibly successful for being a two-man  unit," Venson 
said. "With (Interstate) 80 as a major  corridor, if we can stop 
drugs from coming in here, we  can stop problems elsewhere."

The unit works with other agencies such as Amtrak  police, the 
federal Drug Enforcement Administration and  Bureau of Alcohol, 
Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.  Investigations with ATF resulted 
in more than seven  pounds of methamphetamine being seized in 2008, he  said.

Also seized during the year were about 98 pounds of  marijuana, 818 
grams of cocaine, more than eight pounds  of hashish, 294 grams of 
ecstasy and 64 grams of  psilocybin mushrooms.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom