Sen. Ben Nelson applauded the Office
of National Drug Control Policy's announcement that it has designated
Nebraska's Lincoln County as a High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area
county.
The designation comes after Sen. Nelson Sent a letter to the NDCP office relating the large amount of federal drug cases initiated in Lincoln County. In 2010, Lincoln County law enforcement agencies reported
69 violent crimes and 352 drug abuse violations.
The new designation will bring federal resources to federal, state, local and
tribal law enforcement efforts aimed at curbing the distribution of illegal
drugs in a critical drug-trafficking region in the United States.
"I fully support the designation of Lincoln County as a
HIDTA county, and firmly believe today's announcement by the Office of National
Drug Control Policy will further enhance drug law enforcement efforts to combat
illegal drugs not only in Lincoln County and the State of Nebraska, but across
the United States," said Senator Nelson.
Lincoln County serves as the crossroads of Interstate 80
and U.S. Highway 83, both of which are major transportation routes for the
distribution of narcotics across the country.
In addition, North Platte is home to the world's largest railroad
classification yard where a high volume of railroad activity has made it an
accessible target for the transportation of illegal substances.
Six gangs have also been identified in
Lincoln County with ties to drug distribution which have increased the
distribution of methamphetamine throughout the area (according to ONDCP).
The
director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, Gil Kerlikowske, said
that Lincoln County will join other Nebraska counties including Dakota, Dawson,
Dodge, Douglas, Hall, Lancaster, Madison, Platte, Sarpy, and Scotts Bluff
Counties as part of the Midwest HIDTA.
"Drug use and its consequences stand in the way of
raising healthy children, maintaining strong families, supporting economic
prosperity, and keeping our communities safe," said Kerlikowske.
