MONTGOMERY— Gov. Bob Riley has awarded a $265,000 economic stimulus grant to boost Lawrence County’s fight against illegal drugs.    

The grant will help compensate for recent funding cuts and increase the number of cases it can investigate and expand its assistance to other law enforcement agencies that fight drug-related violent crime.

“Sadly, illegal drugs threaten peaceful communities in every corner of our state,” Riley said. “By investigating, arresting and prosecuting drug traffickers, the task force sends a clear message that drug users and pushers will not be tolerated in Lawrence County.”

Task force agents use informants, undercover drug purchases and other intelligence-gathering techniques to combat drug-related crime. These efforts lead to the prosecution of offenders and the seizure of money, weapons and vehicles used in illegal activities.

County officials say the number of methamphetamine labs in the county has increased during the past year. The task force will focus its efforts on finding and destroying the labs and arresting those who make the drug.

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

Riley notified Alma Whitlow, chairwoman of the County Commission, that the grant had been approved.           

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Contact: Mike Presley, Larry Childers