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KELO-Land
TV
Airdate
04/14/2006
Fewer
people are making methamphetamine, but more are using the drug. It sounds
like a contradictory statement, but it’s what's happening in South Dakota.
Thursday, state leaders and law enforcement gathered in Sioux Falls to
examine the growing problem of meth use. One of the trends discussed: meth
trafficking on tribal grounds.
In 2003, 41 meth labs were discovered and 503 people were arrested on meth
charges. But those numbers changed dramatically in 2005, when just 17 labs
were found but the number of people arrested jumped to 724.
In Flandreau, the police department is all to familiar with this trend.
Officers say the majority of meth-related crimes happen on tribal grounds,
and they're stepping up their efforts to stop the surge in drug use.
A brown lab named "Cash" is the newest member of the Flandreau Police
Department. In just a few weeks, the dog will be certified to sniff out
drugs and will help put more meth users behind bars, because right now...
"It's kind of like picking up dandelions out of your yard, you pick one
and you've got two or three others popping up somewhere else," says
Flandreau Police Chief Ken James about the problem of meth users in his
town.
James says tribal grounds have become "the" place for users to buy and
sell meth across South Dakota.
"I think in a lot of other areas you're talking about a high population, a
lot of remoteness, a lot of square miles and a lot of checkerboard
jurisdiction," James said.
He says its that inconsistent law enforcement that makes it too easy for
people to traffic meth. Even in Flandreau, where local police have
permission to enforce on reservation land, officers still have a hard time
staying on top of drug use, and the other crimes connected with meth.
"With the usage of methamphetamine, you are seeing a high increase of sex
abuse on the Indian reservations," James said.
James says adding a K-9 unit will help, but he's going to need even more
support if they're going to put a stop to the drug problem they now refer
to as "a crisis."
"We can't defeat this problem by ourselves," James said.
James also says it's getting harder to track people with meth, since fewer
people are manufacturing it in their homes, which in the past was often
how police caught those using the drug.
Matt Belanger
© 2006 KELOLAND TV. All Rights Reserved.
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