Pubdate: Wed, 07 Jun 2006
Source: Times-Courier (IL)
Copyright: 2006sJournal Gazette and Times-Courier, divisions of Lee Enterprise
Contact:  http://www.jg-tc.com/index.php
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4181
Author: Matt Adrian, JG/T-C Springfield Bureau
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)

STATE METH UNITS MAKE 653 ARRESTS IN FIRST YEAR

SPRINGFIELD -- Illinois' special units for tracking down 
methamphetamine have made 653 arrests and seized more than 213,000 
grams of drugs in their first year.

State officials played up these statistics as proof that Illinois is 
getting a handle on the methamphetamine problem.

"The dangers associated with meth go well beyond the user -- the 
process of making the drug puts families, neighbors and even entire 
communities at risk," said Gov. Rod Blagojevich in a prepared 
statement. "The results from the first year are very encouraging, 
which shows that the response teams are making a difference."

In May 2005, the state was divided into multi-county districts, each 
with a Meth Response Team. These units are focused on providing 
relief to local law enforcement blitzed by increased meth-related crime.

"Local law enforcement was just getting crushed in overtime hours on 
meth investigations," said state Rep. Chapin Rose, R-Mahomet, who led 
a legislative task force that recommended the creation of these 
specialized units. "It helps provide relief to local counties that 
are paying for this through local property taxes."

In 2000, local drug task forces made 605 meth arrests. By 2004, the 
number of arrests jumped to 1,264. The new units free up police to 
focus on other illegal substances such as marijuana and cocaine, 
according to the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority.

The response teams also help clean up hazardous waste left over from 
a meth lab.

Over the last year, the units have seized 35,114 grams of finished 
methamphetamine. The remaining 177,810 grams was in a liquid state, 
which is later dried into a powder.
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman