Pubdate: Sat, 29 Jul 2006
Source: Gazette, The  (Cedar Rapids, IA)
Contact:  2006 Gazette Communications
Website: http://www.gazetteonline.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3847
Author: Rod Boshart, The Gazette
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Marijuana)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/coke.htm (Cocaine)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/heroin.htm (Heroin)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)

IOWA DRUG CZAR APPEALS FOR FUNDING

DES MOINES, IA - The amount of illegal seized by Iowa enforcement
officers in the past year was enough to keep every resident of the
state high for nearly two days, the state drug czar said today.

The 25 drug enforcement task forces operating in Iowa confiscated an
estimated 11,000 pounds of illegal drugs valued at more than $43
million, and each officer averaged about 50 drug-related arrests
during the last 12 months, according to data released by Marvin Van
Haaften, Iowa's drug policy coordinator.

Van Haaften credited the task forces with reducing the availability of
methamphetamine and other illegal drugs in Iowa and making communities
safer, but those efforts now may be in jeopardy by proposed cuts in
federal programs that provide funds to state and local
authorities.

Federal funding for Iowa anti-drug enforcement efforts already have
shrunk from $6.9 million in fiscal 2003 to a current level of $2.7
million, he said. Proposals in Congress may boost that total, but Van
Haaften said it needs to return to $7 million range to battle the
international traffickers and national suppliers who are countering a
dramatic drop in clandestine meth labs operating in Iowa.

"We can't take a step back. We can't do that," said Ken Carter, head
of the state Department of Public Safety's narcotics division, who
joined Van Haaten at a Statehouse news conference to press for
increased federal funding for anti-crime initiatives.

The federal funding drop-off has reduced the number of narcotics
officers from 83 positions to 59.5 full-time jobs, Van Haaften said,
bringing with it a decline in drug arrests and seizures. Drug arrests
went from 4,209 in fiscal 2004 to 3,136 last year, he noted.

The drug czar said methamphetamine, cocaine, marijuana and heroin
remain major problems in Iowa, he added. Also, violent crime rates
have begun moving upward as the federal money has diminished.

"Our communities cannot afford to take this hit, particularly in the
midst of a meth epidemic," said U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, via a
statement issued at today's press conference. "Ask any sheriff, any
detective, or any police officer on the beat, and they'll tell you
that these cuts will weaken our ability to fight violent crime."
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake