FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WOWO): Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill announced funding for two local agencies to assist in drug interdiction efforts Tuesday at the Allen County Courthouse.
The Allen County Sheriff’s Department and the Fort Wayne Police Department will each receive about $50,000 through a $1.25 million grant from the Indiana Drug Enforcement Association (IDEA). The funds will be used for highway interdiction teams (HITs) that will include officers and drug-detection dogs in 8 areas across the state.
“Enforcement, in addition to prevention and treatment, remains a key component in our efforts to fight the devastating drug crisis gripping Indiana,” Hill said. “By increasing interdiction, we are sending the message loud and clear that Indiana is not a safe place for illegally transporting drugs. Criminals need to know they will be caught, they will be arrested and they will be prosecuted.”
So far, eight police cars and five police K-9s have been purchased through the program, along with tracking software, two-way radios, and emergency police equipment.
HITs arrested 16, seized 12 pounds of marijuana, a pound of methamphetamine, pills and cocaine with a street value of $65,000 in the month of April. They also seized a handgun and $16,000 in cash.
The following agencies also have received funding for the program along with Fort Wayne:
- Dearborn County Sheriff’s Office and Dearborn Special Crimes Unit (Prosecutor’s Office)
- Elkhart County Intelligence and Covert Enforcement (ICE) Unit (Prosecutor’s Office)
- Evansville Police Department and Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office
- Kokomo Police Department
- Lafayette Police Department and West Lafayette Police Department
- Lake County Sheriff’s Office
- Porter County Sheriff’s Office
