Funds sought for high-traffic drug areasBy Ely Portillo
Local leaders announced on Wednesday they intend to apply for a federal program that provides money to fight drugs in high-trafficking areas.
If the Office of National Drug Control Policy approves the application, Mecklenburg, Gaston and Union counties will be designated “High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas.”
“Given the rapid growth we're seeing in the area and our location at the intersection of several major interstates, it's necessary that there's a program in place to combat the intense amount of drug trafficking that happens in our area,” U.S. Rep. Sue Myrick, R-N.C., said in a written statement.
“Given the rapid growth we're seeing in the area and our location at the intersection of several major interstates, it's necessary that there's a program in place to combat the intense amount of drug trafficking that happens in our area,” U.S. Rep. Sue Myrick, R-N.C., said in a written statement.
There are currently 28 federally designated high-trafficking areas, which comprise about 14 percent of American counties. They include areas around Atlanta, Miami, New York, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles and the entire Mexican-American border.
Such areas receive additional federal money and resources to devise strategies and further collaboration among federal, state and local law enforcement agencies fighting drug smuggling.
Such areas receive additional federal money and resources to devise strategies and further collaboration among federal, state and local law enforcement agencies fighting drug smuggling.
The program is to distribute $270 million in federal funds for fiscal 2010.
Charlotte has seen an increase in heroin-related arrests and seizures in recent years. The U.S. Department of Justice in 2009 identified the city as one of 230 in which Mexican cartels focus on distributing cocaine, marijuana, methamphetamine and heroin.
Charlotte has seen an increase in heroin-related arrests and seizures in recent years. The U.S. Department of Justice in 2009 identified the city as one of 230 in which Mexican cartels focus on distributing cocaine, marijuana, methamphetamine and heroin.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Rodney Monroe said the designation would help police fight organized drug dealing groups. “We believe that gaining the ‘HIDTA' designation will be a positive step,” he said in a written statement.
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