MONTGOMERY— DeKalb County’s fight against illegal drugs is receiving a boost in the form of a $475,000 economic stimulus grant from Gov. Bob Riley

The grant will support the operations of the DeKalb County Drug and Major Crimes Task Force. The unit conducts investigations and undercover operations that reduce illegal drug use, trafficking and the violent crime associated with drugs.

“The illegal drug trade is a threat to the health and safety of every community,” Riley said. “The task force is working hard to reduce the manufacture and sale of illegal substances in DeKalb County.”

The task force combines the resources of local law enforcement agencies including representatives from the district attorney’s office, the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department and the Fort Payne Police Department. In the next 12 months, the task force will focus on reducing the distribution of methamphetamine, cocaine and marijuana into the county, officials said.

In addition to local investigations, agents conduct joint investigations with regional, state and federal agencies to combat drugs and drug-related violent crime.

The task force destroyed 47 methamphetamine labs in 2008, unit officials said.

The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs is administering the grant from funds made available to Alabama by the U.S. Justice Department as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

Riley informed Sid Holcomb, chairman of the County Commission, that the grant had been approved.    

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Contact: Mike Presley, Larry Childers