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Nunes Announces Boost in Funds to Fight Drug Trafficking

Date: Sept. 20, 2005
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Drugs


Nunes Announces Boost in Funds to Fight Drug Trafficking

September 20, 2005

WASHINGTON, D.C.— The federal law enforcement coalition in charge of tracking down and dismantling high-level drug trafficking operations in the Central Valley will get an additional $550,000 this year, Rep. Devin Nunes announced today.

The funds are going to the Central Valley High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) based in Fresno and includes law enforcement officers from Fresno, Kern, Kings, Madera, Merced, Sacramento, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, and Tulare counties. The funds are being made available through the Office of National Drug Control Policy.

"HIDTA is our frontline defense against organized drug trafficking in the Central Valley," said Rep. Nunes, R-Tulare. "I am very pleased this hard-working and innovative group is getting the additional resources they need to protect our communities against the scourge of drug dealers."

In 2004, the Central Valley HIDTA conducted about 864 investigations, 314 more than it conducted in 2003. It seized almost 192,000 marijuana plants, compared to about 19,000 in 2003, and made more than 1,100 drug-related arrests.

Earlier this year, the Central Valley HIDTA received $2.2 million in federal funds to combat marijuana.

http://www.house.gov/nunes/press/2005/sept/092005HIDTA.htm

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