Pubdate: Tue, 04 Dec 2007
Source: Kingsport Times-News (TN)
Copyright: 2007 Kingsport Publishing Corporation
Contact: http://www.timesnews.net/lettertoeditor.php
Website: http://www.timesnews.net/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1437
Author: Stephan Igo

LATEST DRUG ROUNDUP TARGETS 56 PEOPLE IN WISE COUNTY

WISE -- In spite of its fes tive name, holiday  greetings were not
particularly cheery for 56  individuals targeted for arrest during the
latest mass  drug roundup in Wise County on Monday.

Law enforcement authori ties announced "Operation  Holiday Cheer" as
the seventh in a series of Wise  County's "Street Sweeper" series to
crack down on  illicit drug use.

Wise County Common wealth's Attorney Ron Elkins said  officers with
the Virginia State Police, Wise County  Sheriff's Office and the
police departments of Big  Stone Gap, Coeburn, St. Paul, Wise and the
city of  Norton were taking part in the arrests of 56 indi  viduals
indicted by the multi-jurisdictional grand  jury on a variety of drug
charges. The first Street  Sweeper drug roundup resulted in charges
filed against  nearly 50 individuals in April 2006.

The ensuing six operations, including the one announced  on Monday,
brings the total number of people charged in  the crackdown to nearly
300 since the anti-drug series  of roundups began last year.

The primary focus of most recent mass arrests of  suspect ed illicit
drug users and/or dealers has been  on controlled pharmaceuticals.
Elkins said the illegal  use of prescrip tion-only medicinal narcotics
is the  leading cause of drug overdose deaths in Wise Coun ty,  as
well as the catalyst for many other crimes committed  in the county
and Norton.

"We are making progress every day in the fight against  drugs in Wise
County and the city of Norton," Elkins  said.

"We have some of the best law enforcement officers in  the state, men
and women who have dedicated their lives  to protect Wise County
citizens. They are in harm's way  for our families, and I thank them
for it. This mass  arrest is another step in keeping Wise County a
great  place to live."
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MAP posted-by: Steve Heath