WASHINGTON, D.C. – Following an April 2016 letter from U.S. Sen Sherrod Brown (D-OH) in support of Lorain County’s petition, the White House’s Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) has designated Lorain County a High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA). This designation enables Lorain County to receive federal resources to reduce drug trafficking and production through coordinated enforcement and intelligence sharing among federal, state, and local enforcement agencies.

“Ohio is on the front lines of the opioid epidemic and we need every available tool to prevent the devastation occurring in our communities,” Brown said. “Lorain County’s HIDTA designation will give law enforcement the resources they need to stop drug trafficking, prevent drug addiction, and save lives.”

“Being accepted in the HIDTA initiative is extremely positive and important.  This allows Lorain County to join forces with our Federal partners and other participating agencies to share resources, personnel and equipment to better enhance joint investigations for the disruption and dismantling of drug trafficking and money laundering organizations,” said Lorain County Sheriff Phil R. Stammitti.

Brown has a history of fighting for HIDTA designations across the state. Other counties with HIDTA designations in Ohio include Adams, Cuyahoga, Fairfield, Franklin, Greene, Hamilton, Lucas, Mahoning, Montgomery, Scioto, Stark, Summit, and Warren.

Brown continues his fight to help treat and prevent drug addiction. In July 2016, Brown wrote to Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Acting Administrator Chuck Rosenberg, urging him to use the agency’s authority to reduce the quantity of opioid pills on the market. Last week, the DEA announced it will lower the number of prescription opioids can be produced and sold in the United States next year, making it less likely that these highly addictive painkillers will fall into the wrong hands.

The text of the letter is below:

April 25, 2016

 

Michael Botticelli

Director

White House Office of National Drug Control Policy 

Washington, D.C. 20006

Dear Director Botticelli:

As the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy considers designations for a High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA), I would like to bring your attention to the application submitted by the Drug Task Force of the Lorain County (Ohio) Sheriff’s Office.

Drug abuse in Lorain County has overwhelmed law enforcement in recent years. The Lorain County Sheriff’s Drug Task Force has shifted its law enforcement focus to fighting high-level drug trafficking organizations. This has led to a 45 percent decrease in new drug cases and a 77 percent decrease in indictments from 2014 compared to the year before. However, with the shift in enforcement efforts in 2015, fentanyl seizures increased by 105 percent, cocaine seizures are up 120 percent, heroin seizures are up 2 percent, and methamphetamine seizures are up 32 percent when compared to 2014.

State and local law enforcement officials have committed significant resources toward battling drug traffickers, but these alarming statistics point to the need for a HIDTA designation for Lorain County.

The Lorain County HIDTA application deserves full and fair consideration. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact [redacted] of my staff at [redacted].

Sincerely,

 

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