Pubdate: Sun, 08 Jun 2003
Source: Free Lance-Star, The (VA)
Copyright: 2003 The Free Lance-Star
Contact:  http://fredericksburg.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1065
Author: Jodi Bizar

STOPPING THE FLOW OF DRUGS

DEA To Open Office In Fredericksburg Area Soon

Area may get own DEA office soon

The good news is fewer illegal drugs are entering the United States. Now 
for the bad news: The illegal drugs that are making it in are cheaper and 
more potent.

"Drugs are very prevalent in this area, and potency is dangerously high," 
said Stafford County Sheriff Charles Jett. "We could definitely use more 
reserves up here."

All told there are about a dozen or so narcotics detectives ferreting out 
drugs in the area.

But reinforcements are on the way. U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration 
officials say a permanent DEA office in the Fredericksburg area is on tap.

Right now there is a part-time DEA agent, based in Richmond, who travels to 
the Fredericksburg area and works out of the FBI office.

But an offer is before Congress to add a full-time DEA office in this area.

"That's our goal," said Nick Broughton, assistant special agent in charge 
of the DEA office in Richmond. "We're trying to expand to that area. 
There's definitely a need."

The DEA couldn't say exactly when the office would be open, but expressed 
optimism that it would happen in a year or two.

Opening a DEA office in the fast-growing Fredericksburg area would have a 
positive impact on drug interdiction, said former DEA administrator, Phil 
Jordan.

"I-95 is a major trafficking corridor and that area is growing by leaps and 
bounds," he said.

"That would be great news," said Fredericksburg police spokesman Lt. 
Richard Pennock.

"We definitely need more resources," Jett said. "Drugs effect property 
crime--crimes against persons."

Officials have no definitive method of determining how much narcotics are 
in the area, but seizures nationwide are way up. The jump in seizures is 
attributed to tighter security measures on the southern border stemming 
from the 9/11 terrorist attack.

More seizures might mean fewer narcotics are actually making it onto U.S. 
streets. But competition between drug cartels in Mexico and Colombia is 
driving purity up and prices down, DEA officials say, resulting in easier 
access and more dangerous drugs.

"The purity of all drugs is as high as it's ever been," Jordan said.

He added that purity levels in cocaine and heroin are, "alarmingly up."

This is of concern to Virginia, Broughton said, because, "there have been 
several overdoses in central Virginia."

Jett agreed: "Heroin is a big issue in this community." He said there has 
been as many as 10 heroin overdoses here in the past several years.

Cocaine and heroin seized in this area are at 80 percent purity. That's 
more than double what it was five years ago.

Jett said three years ago pot was selling on the street for $3,000 a pound. 
Nowadays it's $1,000 a pound.

And popular pharmaceuticals--ecstasy and methamphetamines--also abound in 
the area. Methamphetamines are not only being used in Virginia, but are 
being made here as well.

"We're seeing an influx in lab production [in this area]. That is the 
trend," Broughton said. "And ecstasy is a prevalent problem, too."

But all area law enforcement contacted said ferreting out these drugs would 
become easier with a permanent DEA office in the region.

They said they are often bounced around between Washington and Richmond 
when requesting federal assistance on cases.

"I only have a whopping three detectives for a large drug responsibility, 
so [a local DEA office] will be a good thing," Jett said.
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