Contact: Ernie Blazar 202.224.7627 Shana Stribling 202.224.0309
Monday, May 20, 2002

NDEPENDENCE, MO - Senator Kit Bond hosted the first of two in-state briefings on Missouri’s anti-methamphetamine campaign with visiting Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) Director Asa Hutchinson.

Bond invited Hutchinson to meet with Missouri law enforcement in Independence and Cape Girardeau to boost federal and state cooperation in the fight against the meth trade. The meeting took place at the Independence, Missouri Police Department and was hosted by Chief Fred Mills.

“Missouri is unfortunately the methamphetamine capitol of the United States,” said Bond. “I invited the DEA chief here to help us fight this terrible drug. We earned this sad distinction because of our location in the middle of the country, our number of small towns and national forest acres, our rural makeup and the number of interstate highways cris-crossing our state, we became an draw for methamphetamine cookers, distributors, dealers and smugglers.”

In the last two years, Bond has secured $5.6 million in federal funds which has been distributed directly to 33 local Missouri sheriffs' offices and 16 multi-county law enforcement task forces through the bi-partisan Missouri Sheriffs Meth-Amphetamine Relief Team (MOSMART). Bond helped set up this coalition of Missouri sheriffs. The money he has secured has helped local law enforcement hire 21 new full-time meth investigators and three full-time drug intelligence analysts in 2001. This manpower boost led to a sharp increase in arrests and lab seizures across the state last year, proving the value of the MOSMART program.

In February 2002, Bond testified in Jefferson City on the need to move the MOSMART program under state sponsorship, a move that would allow the state to contribute funds. State Senator John Cauthorn introduced legislation to make this happen.

Joining Bond and DEA Chief Hutchinson today were Mr. Todd Graves, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, Mr. Mauri Sheer, United States Marshal, for the Western District of Missouri.

The following sheriffs (and deputies) also participated: Tom Phillips, Jackson County (D); Dick Anderson, Platte County (R); Captain Paul Carrill, Platte County Investigative Division; Dwight Diehl, Cass County (R); Kerrick Alumbaugh, Lafayette County (D); Gary Holloway, Ray County (D), Doug Porter, Ray County; Charlie Heiss, Johnson County (R); and Paul Vescovo, Clay County (R).

Also in attendance today were: Dave Barton, Director, Midwest High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area ; Larry Tongate, Deputy Director, Midwest HIDTA; Mike Smithley, Director, Jackson County Drug Task Force; Police Chief Aaron Ambrose, Grain Valley Police Department; Police Chief Ken Conlee, Lee's Summit Police Department; Greg Mills, Narcotics & Vice Division, Kansas City Police Department; Police Chief Wayne McCoy, Blue Springs Police Department; Major Bob Ahring, Blue Springs Police Department; Lt. Carl Bradley, Narcotics Division, Raytown Police Department; and Police Chief Herb Soule, Sugar Creek Police Department