Drug interdiction efforts help clean up streets
Fresh off participation in undercover drug operations that resulted in the indictments of dozens of suspected drug dealers, local law enforcement officers are again stepping up the fight against narcotics, according to officers of the Oneida Police Department.
Oneida Chief of Police Mike Cross has instated an interdiction program, through which Sgt. John Terry and K-9 Officer Stephen Ward spend an average of five days each month focusing on inderdictive drug efforts.
“The idea is to take drugs off the streets through these measures,” Sgt. Terry said.
Often, law enforcement officers discover illegal drugs during the course of otherwise routine traffic stops. By focusing on traffic stops of motor vehicle offenders who are in violation of minor traffic laws — such as speeding or violation of the seat belt law — it is assumed that at least some of those illegal drugs can be taken out of the hands of dealers before they’re sold.
Last month, those interdiction efforts led to multiple motorists being cited for drug possession. In addition, Terry said, six persons who were wanted on outstanding warrants in other law enforcement jurisdictions were arrested.
In one particular case, officers stopped a Winfield man for violation of the seatbelt law, and discovered a loaded .45-caliber handgun and an illegal explosive device in his vehicle. Allegedly, officers discovered a homemade pipe bomb, which was constructed of a steel body with a two ft. fuse. The motorist was charged with possession of a prohibited weapon and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.
In another instance, officers stopped a vehicle for a minor traffic violation and allegedly discovered a variety of drugs, including a pill bottle containing marijuana, a canvas container with both a “one-hitter” pipe and a bag or marijuana, a metal container containing a glass pipe and methamphetamine, and a gym bag containing more marijuana and several new Zip-loc bags. In all, 34 grams of marijuana and two grams of crystal meth were discovered, and the motorist was charged with possession of a Schedule II controlled substance (crystal meth), possession of a Schedule VI controlled substance (marijuana) for resale, possession of drug paraphernalia, and felony possession of marijuana.
Other charges lodged during the course of interdiction work in May included a motorist charged with promoting the manufacture of methamphetamine, possession of a Schedule II controlled substance (methamphetamine) and possession of drug paraphernalia; two motorists charged with simple possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia; several other motorists charged with simple possession of marijuana; and a motorist charged with possession of untaxed liquor.