Pubdate: Wed, 07 Jun 2006
Source: Southern Illinoisan (Carbondale, IL)
Copyright: 2006 Southern Illinoisan
Contact:  http://www.TheSouthern.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1430
Author:  The Associated Press
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)

STATE METH TEAM REPORTS BUSY FIRST YEAR IN ACTION

SPRINGFIELD -- Six Illinois State Police response teams had a busy 
first year combating the spread of methamphetamine labs statewide, 
state officials said today.

The teams of troopers handled 750 meth-related incidents in their 
first year of operation, made more than 650 arrests and seized nearly 
213,000 grams of meth and materials used to make the drug, Gov. Rod 
Blagojevich's office said in a news release.

The teams were formed in May 2005 in six cities around the state to 
help local authorities deal with a skyrocketing number of meth cases, 
with meth arrests by task forces and city enforcement groups more 
than doubling from 2000 to 2004.

More than half of the 750 cases were referred to the teams by local 
law enforcement or other State Police investigative units, and many 
of the arrests involved purchasing of materials needed to produce 
meth, officials said.

They are designed to seize and dismantle meth labs, investigate meth 
manufacturers and raise awareness and education about the dangers of 
meth by making presentations to schools and community groups.

"We're taking a very serious approach to the significant issues 
associated with this devastating drug," State Police Director Larry 
Trent said in a statement. "Law enforcement remains committed to this 
effort and my agency will dedicate every resource necessary to combat 
this dangerous drug."
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman