Pubdate: Thu, 13 Dec 2001
Source: Bakersfield Californian (CA)
Copyright: 2001, The Bakersfield Californian
Contact:  http://www.bakersfield.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/36
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)

FBI HAS OTHER FISH TO FRY

The War on Terrorism unfortunately is adversely affecting the battle on 
methamphetamine in the San Joaquin Valley.

As part of a redeployment of personnel to put the squeeze on terrorists, 
the FBI has removed its six Central Valley special agents from a 
collaborative anti-meth effort.

Ironically, the day it was announced about the FBI pullout, law enforcement 
officers were shutting down a meth lab in Oildale.

The incident emphasizes that the valley continues to have a big problem 
with producers and traders of meth.

Bill Ruzzamenti, based in Fresno, directs the Central Valley High Intensity 
Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) program designed to battle the meth trade. It 
is an organization that links state, local and federal officers in a 
nine-county region from Sacramento to Bakersfield. The six FBI agents 
worked with HIDTA personnel.

They were assigned to HIDTA because illegal drug labs in California produce 
an estimated 75 percent of meth in the United States, with more than half 
produced in the Central Valley.

Dealers choose the valley to manufacture the drug because of its many 
isolated areas with access to interstate state highways, making it easy to 
export to the rest of the state and nation.

Ruzzamenti has a map showing links between meth produced in the valley and 
drug operations elsewhere in the nation. "It has a mass of red lines 
everywhere," Ruzzamenti said.

Rep. Bill Thomas, R-Bakersfield, has successfully fought for federal funds 
to help battle the meth drug trade in the valley. In his plea for federal 
funding two years ago, Thomas said: "Drugs produced in the Central Valley 
have been tracked to every corner of the United States."

The HIDTA program now receives $2.5 million in federal funds. The funds 
allow the agency to purchase digital cameras and thermal imagery equipment 
cameras that can pick up undercover action from a quarter of a mile away or 
more.

As prevalent as meth is in the valley, the drug would be available in much 
larger quantities without HIDTA. It has produced hundreds of arrests; 
dismantled hundreds of meth labs and confiscated hundreds of pounds of meth 
seized.

HIDTA has a complement of award-winning agents and officers. A contingent 
of HIDTA personnel just returned from Washington, D.C., where members were 
given awards and honored for their diligence at a national drug-fighters' 
conference.

Nevertheless, withdrawal of the FBI agents from HIDTA will have an adverse 
affect. Director Ruzzamenti said he can't argue with the reason for the 
pullout, "but it does create some problems for us."

Robert Pennal, a state Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement supervisor, believes 
federal involvement, including funding and personnel, is crucial.

Ruzzamenti hopes federal funding to HIDTA will increase by $1 million. 
Perhaps a good portion of that amount should help finance hiring additional 
FBI agents who can rejoin the fight against meth in the valley.
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