Pubdate: Mon, 16 Apr 2001
Source: Augusta Chronicle, The (GA)
Copyright: 2001 The Augusta Chronicle
Contact:  http://www.augustachronicle.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/31
Note: Does not publishing letters from outside of the immediate Georgia and 
South Carolina circulation area

BUSTING THE DEALERS

A year-long effort by undercover drug agents put dozens of alleged drug 
dealers behind bars last week in Waynesboro and Burke County, showing once 
again that cooperation between law enforcement agencies can do more than 
any single agency can ever accomplish alone.

The several teams of undercover cops bought drugs and filmed transactions 
over the course of many months, doing work that is extremely dangerous - 
drug dealers, after all, are part of an underworld that is armed, dangerous 
and experienced.

Of course, the arrests ring too familiar a bell. Such drug busts go down 
all the time these days across America and where they used to make 
front-page news, now they often hardly make news at all. And all too often, 
drug dealers are repeat customers at state prisons, serving only portions 
of their sentences before they're right back on the streets peddling all 
kinds of dangerous chemicals. Until America comes up with a way to suppress 
demand, the suppliers will continue to crawl in the dark corners of our 
communities.

Things were clearly getting out of hand in Waynesboro and so we 
congratulate the Georgia Bureau of Investigation field office in Thomson, 
the GBI state Task Force, the Waynesboro Police Department and the Burke 
County Sheriff's Office for making this sting operation a priority.
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MAP posted-by: Beth