GAINESVILLE - The Hall County Multi-Agency Narcotics Squad (MANS) has already made more Trafficking Methamphetamine cases this year than during all of any one other year.
Agents released the figures Friday, two days after the conclusion of a Meth Summit in Atlanta, at which law enforcement agents, prosecutors, and other public safety officers gathered to brainstorm about ways to combat the methamphetamine problem in the state.
Governor Perdue opened the conference Tuesday by declaring that the production of the drug is "growing like kudzu" in the state.
Lt. Kenny Neece says more trafficking cases were made in the four months between March and June this year than any entire year in the history of Hall County MANS. Twenty-four cases were made and, Neece said, based upon current investigative leads, this rate is expected to continue.
In addition, he said, the quantity of cocaine and methamphetamine seized by MANS has increased substantially, particularly the seizures involving quantities of over a pound. "This year has seen nine individual wholesale seizures of more than a pound of cocaine or methamphetamine in the first six months."
"The criminal charges that are generated by these higher-level cases are much more severe than those of lower, street level cases," Lt. Neece said. "These wholesale seizures usually generate criminal charges of Trafficking in an illegal drug."
"The seizure of controlled substances in larger, wholesale quantities affects many more potential drug users than seizures in smaller, retail quantities," Neece added. "The larger the quantity of seizure, the more dosage units that have been removed from the illegal drug supply. Additionally, the arrest of a wholesale drug distributor causes greater interruption to an organized drug distribution network than the arrest of a lower-level retail seller."
Tuesday
May 21st, 2024
8:19PM
