Pubdate: Fri, 06 Jun 2003
Source: Rochester Democrat and Chronicle (NY)
Copyright: 2003 Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
Contact:  http://www.democratandchronicle.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/614
Author: Patrick Flanigan
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/af.htm (Asset Forfeiture)

ANTI-DRUG TEAM REVEALED

13 Months After Its Creation, Granet Has Seized $598,697

Monroe County's top police executives Thursday revealed the existence of a 
year-old task force to disrupt the illegal drug trade among mid- to 
upper-level dealers.

The Greater Rochester Area Narcotics Enforcement Team -- or GRANET -- was 
formed 13 months ago. But the police chiefs waited to announce the team's 
formation until it had accumulated a year's worth of arrests and seizures, 
said Brockport Police Chief Dan Varrenti, an administrator of the team.

"These arrests were made based on lengthy investigations and a 
collaborative effort," Varrenti said at a news conference at the Monroe 
Community College Public Safety Training Center on Scottsville Road.

The new enforcement team marks the first time all 11 county police 
departments have joined forces in a focused ongoing effort against illegal 
drugs in Monroe County. Team members focus on dealers higher up in the 
network, many of whom live in the suburbs and supply street-level retailers 
in the city or adjacent counties.

First Assistant District Attorney Mike Green noted two targets of a GRANET 
investigation -- Carlos Pichardo, 40; and Luis Velez, 43 -- were convicted 
on drug charges Wednesday for their role in a drug ring that moved 5 
kilograms of cocaine per week through the Rochester area.

"This unit has already demonstrated tremendous success," he said.

Rochester Police Chief Robert Duffy said GRANET was formed to deal with the 
fact that most drug dealers don't discriminate among towns or other 
municipal boundaries.

"This will put a sense of fear into those people who attempt to bring 
cocaine and other drugs into the Rochester area," Duffy said. "It really is 
a regionwide problem, and this is a regionwide approach."

GRANET is a combination of two drug-fighting partnerships and cooperation 
from four departments that had not been part of either task force.

In May 2002, the Multi-Agency Drug Task Force, representing five suburban 
police departments, joined with the Metro Rochester Narcotics Unit, which 
was made up of Rochester police officers and sheriff's deputies.

Each department can assign officers to rotate through duty on GRANET.

The team typically comprises about 18 members and is under the command of 
Rochester police Lt. Gerald Connor, with a $120,000 yearly operating budget 
administered by the Rochester Police Department. Operating expenses -- such 
as cell phones, telephone-tap devices and rental cars -- are reimbursed 
with drug money seized by the team.

Twenty percent of all money seized goes to the federal government. What's 
left after expenses is divided among participating agencies according to a 
formula based on how many officers each department assigns to the team.

Since GRANET was formed, team members have arrested 74 people in the city 
and 30 in the surrounding county. They've seized $598,697 in cash, 10.5 
kilograms of cocaine, 406 kilograms of marijuana and 517 grams of heroin. 
They've also taken 14 handguns, 10 shotguns and five rifles.
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