Pubdate: Mon, 22 Jan 2001
Source: News Journal (DE)
Copyright: 2001 The News Journal
Contact:  Letters to Editor, Box 15505, Wilmington, DE 19850
Fax: (302) 324-2595
Website: http://www.delawareonline.com/newsjournal/index.html
Author: Harry Themal

WILMINGTON IS CROSSROAD OF DRUG TRADE

Location, location, location -- the selling point that economic 
development officials use to sell Delaware to prospective businesses 
- -- is also the opportunity being seized by the drug trade.

Dealers and buyers are flocking to Wilmington's central East Coast 
location, easily accessible by Interstates 95, 495 and 295, and 
through the busy Amtrak station and heavily used Port of Wilmington, 
city officials say.

Mayor James Baker has made illegal drugs the number-one target of his 
new administration.

While the effects of drug trafficking might be felt most severely in 
the city, the problem cannot be separated from the rest of New Castle 
County, Delaware, our country and the world. The interrelationship is 
vividly portrayed in a current film, "Traffic."

The film vividly demonstrates what Baker said in his inaugural 
address three weeks ago: "The war on drugs has been the greatest 
defeat in the history of civilization for our country and our 
community. The casualty list is unending, but consists mostly of our 
children and our poor."

Baker says his strong remarks were prompted by the pervasive 
complaints he heard during his election campaign and earlier service 
as city council president. Residents, many of them elderly or poor, 
feel they are imprisoned in their own homes because of often violent 
activity on the street.

Dirty Profits

Baker cited the open sale of drugs on streets and dealers who move 
from one neighborhood to another when confronted by police. Children 
see big money being made from the illicit trade, Baker said, and are 
tempted to spurn honest work. Illnesses such as HIV and AIDS are 
directly traceable to drug use. Millions of dollars are being spent 
to imprison those who do get arrested.

Baker said a variety of ethnic groups take advantage of the profits, 
with each new entrepreneur trying to muscle out others, leading to 
shootings.

Baker and Police Chief Mike Szczerba say the latest to take advantage 
of Wilmington streets are dealers from Baltimore. Baker says their 
Maryland-licensed cars are seen parked in drug neighborhoods. No 
longer are just Philadelphia, Chester and New York considered the 
sources for drugs and potential purchasers.

Szczerba says that crack cocaine has been the major problem for 15 
years but a major heroin bust was made recently.

Baker knows the city cannot go it alone. He already has called on 
county, state and federal authorities to assist. He will use 
Wilmington's licensing and inspection department to drive dealers and 
users from vacant and rehabilitated houses. He says the Wilmington 
Housing Authority will have to do more to stop the drug trade in its 
jurisdiction.

Dealers say they're only meeting demand, often from middle- and 
upper-class suburbs. This aspect is vividly shown in "Traffic," where 
the fictional daughter of the national drug czar-designate gets 
hooked.

Baker sees the great need for more treatment centers for addicts who 
haven't wound up in prison or recently been released.

He also should lobby state Sen. Tom Sharp and his like-minded 
colleagues, who believe mandatory minimum prison sentences help the 
state. If Sharp doesn't listen, it's long past time to go around him.

Baker is still formulating his plans. From the many national 
failures, he knows how hard his battle will be to curb both drug 
trafficking and usage. But he also knows it is a battle he must wage.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Josh Sutcliffe