Pubdate: Tue, 16 Oct 2001
Source: Detroit News (MI)
Copyright: 2001, The Detroit News
Contact:  http://www.detnews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/126
Author: David Shepardson

AGENCY SHARES DRUG BUST CASH LOCALLY

Fbi Gives Detroit Police, Sheriff's Department $2.7 Million

DETROIT -- The FBI has given $2.7 million to the Detroit Police Department 
and Wayne County Sheriff's Department following two drug busts and seizures 
in February 2000.

At a recent presentation, John E. Bell Jr., special agent in charge of the 
Detroit FBI office, presented checks for $1.54 million to Detroit police 
and $1.2 million to the sheriff's department.

The award stemmed from a Feb. 16, 2000, seizure of currency, cocaine and 
firearms. Special Agent Dawn Clenney said she couldn't say how much money 
was seized in total, but that the Detroit Police Department received the 
bulk of the money recovered.

In a separate arrest stemming from the same investigation, $1.2 million in 
drug money was seized in Taylor, Wayne County Sheriff Robert Ficano said. 
The money and contraband were being carried by a courier in Taylor, who was 
arrested by the county's drug task force. The task force will split the 
money with its member departments.

"These were among the largest seizures in Wayne County history," Ficano said.

The FBI said the seizure of currency in Taylor was a record for western 
Wayne County.

The proceeds, which cannot go to recoup officers' salaries, are used to 
cover other costs such as equipment and training, Ficano said. In a typical 
year, the Wayne County Sheriff's Department gets between $1 million and $2 
million in forfeiture proceeds, Ficano said.

The FBI, U.S. Marshal's Service and Drug Enforcement Administration, along 
with several other federal agencies, work closely with Detroit police and 
other law enforcement agencies on drug cases, sharing intelligence and 
plotting joint strategy. The FBI dedicates a significant number of agents 
to drug cases and drug-related crimes in Michigan.

"Only by working together can we attack the drug problem. Cooperation 
between police agencies is a must on drug cases," Ficano said.
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