News Release
August 12, 2005

DEA opens London Resident Office

Cutting the ribbon on the new London RO (from L to R): ASAC Gary Oetjen, U.S. Congressman Hal Rogers and ASAC Badaracco.

AUG 22– A ribbon cutting ceremony was held at the new Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) London Resident Office (RO) which is home to a DEA task force comprised of agents and officers from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Kentucky State Police, Rock Castle County Sheriff’s Department, Laurel County Sheriff’s Department and the London Police Department. Fifth District U.S. Congressman Harold “Hal” Rogers assisted Richard A. Badaracco, DEA Assistant Special Agent in Charge (ASAC) of the Detroit Field Division (DFD), and ASAC Gary W. Oetjen of the Louisville District Office (DO) in cutting the ribbon. U.S. Congressman Rogers continues to be a great supporter of DEA’s mission and of all drug law enforcement. Other attendees and supporters included the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Kentucky, the United States Marshall’s Office, Operation UNITE, the Kentucky Office for Drug Control Policy, and the Kentucky National Guard.

From L to R: ASAC Oetjen, US Congressman Hal Rogers and GS Pilot for the East Central Area Keith A. Johnson with DEA aircraft.

This state-of-the-art facility will serve as a place where the DEA task force will continue to work together in their anti-drug mission to identify, target, disrupt, and dismantle drug organizations which plague London and other communities. An extremely successful task force working relationship, increased workload and the need for more space and technology prompted DEA to transfer into this much more accommodating building. Over the last seven years, the DEA task force has been responsible for removing more than 60 pounds of cocaine, 80 pounds of methamphetamine, more than 2.5 million marijuana plants, approximately three tons of processed marijuana; arresting nearly 600 drug traffickers and seizing more than $7.5 million in drug trafficking assets. ASAC Gary Oetjen stated, “ DEA’s investment is this building is a symbol of a shared commitment with our partners in law enforcement to bring drug traffickers to justice and to make the communities of Eastern Kentucky safer.”

From L to R: D/I Brooke Blalock, Office Assistant Linda Osborne and I/A Anne Millard Meade.

Cutting the cake at the new London RO opening ceremony (from L to R): ASAC Gary Oetjen, U.S. Congressman Hal Rogers and recently retired RAC of the London RO Michael C. Pelonero.