MONTGOMERY—Two specialized law enforcement units will continue working to reduce the impact of illegal drugs in three north Alabama counties with the help of grants awarded by Gov. Robert Bentley.
Bentley awarded grants of $202,391 to the city of Huntsville for the Madison-Morgan Strategic Counterdrug Team and $95,000 to the Colbert County Commission for the county’s Drug Task Force. Both units arrest and prosecute traffickers, sellers and users of illegal drugs.
“Illegal drugs are a menace to the health and safety of our communities,” Bentley said. “The work of these task forces is sending a clear message that illegal drugs will not be tolerated.”
The Madison-Morgan Strategic Counterdrug Team includes representatives from the sheriff’s departments of Madison and Morgan counties, the 23rd Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s office and the city of Huntsville. Agents conduct surveillance and undercover operations to apprehend offenders and gather evidence for successful prosecutions.
Now in its 21st year, the Colbert County Drug Task Force will focus on cocaine, marijuana, methamphetamine and the abuse of prescription drugs, which task force officials say are the biggest drug problems in the area. The unit is made up of representatives from several law enforcement agencies in the county.
The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs is administering the grant from funds made available to the state by the U.S. Justice Department.
Bentley informed Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle and Colbert County Commission Chairman Troy Woodis that the grants had been approved. Matching funds of $67,463 have been committed to the Madison-Morgan Counterdrug Team and $31,666 has been committed to the Colbert County Drug Task Force.
Contact: Mike Presley, Larry Childers