Pubdate: Thu, 21 Mar 2002
Source: News-Enterprise, The (KY)
Copyright: 2002 News-Enterprise
Contact:  http://www.newsenterpriseonline.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1663
Author: Greg Bartlett, Staff Writer
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?186 (Oxycontin)

PRESCRIPTION DRUG VIOLATORS TARGETED

Kentucky State Police expected to make more than 100 arrests, including at 
least a dozen in this area, by the end of Wednesday as part of a statewide 
drug investigation.

"We do this once or twice a year," said KSP spokesman Steve Pavey, who 
explained that Wednesday was the culmination of six months of investigative 
work on "Operation Rx."

Unlike most drug investigations, Operation Rx was aimed mainly at 
prescription drug violations.

"We don't (specifically go after those violators) a lot of times," Pavey 
said, but police wanted to make a dent in the crimes before they became 
more prevalent.

He said most local arrests Wednesday came in Hardin and Meade counties, 
with a few more in nearby counties.

Charges around Kentucky ranged from possession of marijuana, a misdemeanor, 
to first-degree trafficking in controlled substances, a Class C felony. 
Most of the charges stem from trafficking in prescription drugs such as 
Oxycontin, Xanax and Lortab, as well as illegal drugs such as cocaine, 
methamphetamine and marijuana.

KSP recently reorganized itself to create its Drug Control Branch. The 
branch will concentrate on illicit drugs and the diversion of prescription 
drugs across the state.

"The Drug Control Branch will be able to more efficiently utilize drug 
intelligence and manpower to combat this problem," KSP Commissioner Ishmon 
F. Burks said in a prepared statement. "In the future, this branch will be 
able to more easily divert manpower to known areas of illegal drug activity."

People can call Elizabethtown's KSP post or (800) DOPE-TIP with tips. 
Callers may remain anonymous.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom