Pubdate: Sun, 24 Mar 2002
Source: Denver Rocky Mountain News (CO)
Copyright: 2002, Denver Publishing Co.
Contact:  http://www.rockymountainnews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/371
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?186 (Oxycontin)

KSP BEGIN DRUG ARRESTS

Kentucky State Police began arresting more than 100 suspects around the 
state Wednesday in the culmination of a six-month investigation of 
street-level drug abuse.

State police spokeswoman Lt. Lisa Rudzinski said those arrested are users 
and traffickers. Although the investigation concentrated on prescription 
drug abuse, Rudzinski said no doctors or pharmacists are among those charged.

Charges range from simple possession of marijuana, a misdemeanor, to 
trafficking in controlled substances, a class C felony punishable by up to 
10 years in prison. Most of the charges involve abuse of prescription drugs 
such as OxyContin, Lortab and Xanax as well as illicit substances such as 
cocaine and methamphetamine.

Arrests will be made in each of the 16 state police post areas, though 
Rudzinski said the eastern portion of the state has a larger share of the 
arrests. More than 200 charges will be levied.

The investigation was code-named "Operation Rx."
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MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager