News Release

DEA's Regional Enforcement Team Portsmouth, Virginia Deployment

Photo (Left to Right): Chief William F. Corvello, Portsmouth PD; Chief Richard Justice, Chesapeake,PD; Dr. James W. Holley III, Portsmouth, VA. Mayor; RC Gamble, Special Agent-in-Charge, DEA Washington Division Office; Paul McNaulty, United States Attorney, Eastern District of Virginia; Pastor & Co-Founder of Vision I Center, Portsmouth, VA.; Michael Varnum, Special Agent-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Norfolk Office; Frank Shults, Assistant United States Attorney; C.W. McCoy, City Manager, Portsmouth, VA.; Chief John Hackman, United States Marshal Service.

DEA's Regional Enforcement Team (RET), assisted the Portsmouth Police Department in a large-scale enforcement operation in 2002, which culminated in February 2003 with federal indictments and the arrest of fifty-two defendants on federal drug trafficking charges. A total of one hundred and seventeen arrests were made based on this RET initiative. Other participating agencies included the Chesapeake Police Department, Norfolk Police Department, United States Postal Inspector's Office, United States Attorney's Office and the City of Portsmouth States Attorney's Office. Four organizations were targeted for federal prosecution and dismantled.

In April 2003, a press conference was held to announce the community impact initiative of The Integrated Drug Enforcement Administration (IDEA). The above photograph shows the officials in attendance.

The Integrated Drug Enforcement Administration (IDEA), was initiated in the Portsmouth, VA area with a coalition of groups interested in efforts to insure safety, reduction in crimes, violence and drugs in their community. The IDEA will continue in the Portsmouth, VA area with the assistance and commitment of the Steering Committee on recommendations for community improvement, monitoring and program maintenance.