Leahy announces $1.75M for Drug Task Force

12/02/2006

Staff Report
Burlington Free Press

WILLISTON -- Sen. Patrick Leahy announced Friday that the Vermont Drug Task Force will receive $1.75 million from the Justice Department to combat increased drug activity in the state.

Leahy made the announcement at the state police barracks, joined by Kerry Sleeper, Vermont state public safety commissioner, and other law enforcement officials.

The task force, which is the only one of its kind in Vermont, has led investigations to disrupt and dismantle trafficking networks that have brought illegal drugs into Vermont.

Vermont health officials estimate the number of Vermonters under treatment for heroin at around 1,000, estimated to be only a fraction of the number of people actually using the drug.

The task force -- which, through the partnership with Leahy, has received federal funding since 2001 -- has worked with state and local law enforcement officers to address the rising issue of drug activity in Vermont.

"The task force has focused and magnified our efforts to combat drug trafficking in Vermont," Leahy said. "Before the task force, Vermont, like other states, lacked a plan to deal with these problems, and the scattershot approach was no match for the concerted efforts of drug rings to expand their activities here."

The new money will allow the task force to continue to support two additional undercover state troopers, two undercover municipal officers, an additional drug prosecutor, a civilian drug intelligence analyst and a business administrator. The task force also works closely with intervention and treatment programs, Corrections and court officials, and with prosecutors to reduce heroin abuse and other substance abuse in Vermont.

Link to article