|
|
News
Release Operation
Speed Bump Impacts April 9--On February 2, 2004 Federal, State and Local entities of the Law Enforcement, Prevention and Treatment communities in San Diego and Imperial Counties in cooperation with their respective counterparts in Baja California, Mexico, initiated OPERATION SPEED BUMP, a unified coalition to address methamphetamine manufacturing, smuggling, distribution and abuse in the area. Working together, the bi-national law enforcement community made a combined total of 834 arrests on operations targeting methamphetamine violators, seized approximately 17,862 grams of methamphetamine, 7 lbs of cocaine, 2 ounces of heroin, 1,735 lbs of marijuana, and over $100,000 U.S. currency, as well as dismantled 3 meth labs. In support of Operation Speed Bump, the County of San Diego Department of Probation contacted 104 individuals who were currently on probation or parole for methamphetamine-related charges to insure they were in compliance. This resulted in 42 probation violator re-arrests and 20 arrests on new felony criminal charges. Prevention coalitions conducted 17 actions, addressing groups of middle- and high-school students, parents, teachers and civic organizations, aimed at increasing public awareness and education with regard to methamphetamine abuse. Informational literature was made available to the public at these events. In Baja California, Mexico a total of 75 methamphetamine abusers enrolled in treatment. As public awareness increased, so did calls to the toll-free Meth Hotline ((1-877-NO2-METH)), a service run cooperatively between the County of San Diego and the federally-funded Narcotics Information Network. In fact, due to the increased exposure of the Meth Hotline telephone number, calls for treatment and to report meth cookers, dealers and users increased from January 2004 by over 200% for February 2004 and continued through March 2004. During the operation, the Methamphetamine Strike Force worked with Coast Advertising to develop bench ads to be placed throughout the county to continue to increase public awareness regarding the service the Meth Hotline provides. The 60-day period of Operation Speed Bump is over, and while the tangible results are indeed significant, equally important has been the strengthening of the long-term goals of continued bi-national cooperation, improved flow of information, and the multi-faceted approach of law enforcement, treatment and prevention needed to successfully address the problem of methamphetamine abuse in our community. “Methamphetamine abuse has become a blizzard of global proportions and has taken the lives of many citizens in myriad countries. DEA stands as the first line of defense against this onslaught , working on global strategies and solutions with both local and international coalitions to end the storm,” says Michael S. Vigil, Special Agent in Charge (SAC) of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s San Diego Field Division. Mr. Vigil announces a press conference on Friday April 9, 2004 at 10:30 am at the DEA San Diego office, 4560 Viewridge Dr, San Diego, California 92123.
|
