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40 °F Forecast | Road Cams Friday, November 26, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Menu Guide How To Guide Wellness Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Passport to the Rogue Valley EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People MARKETPLACE Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Classifieds Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend May 5, 2004 Meth seizures mount in 2003 By JACK MORAN Mail Tribune The Jackson County Narcotics Enforcement Team seized a record amount of methamphetamine in 2003 while also renewing efforts to enforce marijuana laws and crack down on street-level drug dealers. About 70 percent of the drug squad’s 2003 cases involved methamphetamine and the chemicals used to manufacture it. Agents sniffed out and seized 16 meth labs during the year — JACNET’s second-highest total behind the 18 lab seizures it made in 2001. All told, the team confiscated 22,343 grams, or about 50 pounds of the drug. "That’s the majority of our work," said JACNET commander Dewey Patten, a sheriff’s lieutenant who assumed control of the drug team last May. One of JACNET’s 2004 goals is to bust 20 meth labs, a tall task that Patten is confident will be accomplished. "But by no means is that going to take all of the meth off the streets," he said. Advertisement So far this year, JACNET has seized five meth labs. Patten previously worked seven years as a JACNET investigator. He remembers when cocaine, not methamphetamine, was Jackson County’s drug of choice. JACNET agents seized just 143 grams of cocaine in 2003. "There used to be a lot more coke around," Patten said. "Meth has kind of moved to the forefront and coke has kind of gone away." One drug that hasn’t gone away is marijuana. While most of JACNET’s time in 2003 was spent battling methamphetamine, the drug team also confiscated 33,038 grams of marijuana, its highest total since 1997. Nearly 2,000 pot plants were pulled — more than JACNET agents seized in the previous four years combined. JACNET arrests for methamphetamine-related offenses dropped from 86 in 2002 to 65 in 2003, but the number of people arrested for marijuana-related crimes rose from 15 in 2002 to 36 in 2003. JACNET made a total of 111 arrests in 2003, compared to 110 the previous year. Patten said JACNET shifts its focus to marijuana for about a month during late summer, when growers are ready to harvest their crops. Jackson County Sheriff Mike Winters, who appointed Patten to the JACNET commander’s post, said he believes the increase in marijuana seizures and arrests is due in part to agents paying more attention to drug crimes of all types, at all different levels. Winters said the number of "self-initiated" cases that were not assigned to agents increased by about 30 percent in 2003. Overall, JACNET handled 838 cases in 2003, up from 702 in 2002. "It’s important to work street-level (crimes), because those can turn into bigger cases," Winters said. "Plus, it takes care of our citizens. People do not want dope dealers living next door to them." Patten and Winters both said drug agents are seeing an increase in the number of medical marijuana gardens that are out of compliance with state law. "Since the medical marijuana act, marijuana seems to be more prevalent," Winters said. "We strictly enforce (state medical marijuana) laws." JACNET managed to step up its efforts in 2003 despite the loss of one full-time agent. The team now has five full-time investigators, down from six one year ago. Participating agencies include the sheriff’s department and police departments in Medford, Central Point and Eagle Point. In 2003, the slimmed-down team was able to meet a list of federal goals that must be accomplished in order to receive funding. The office of National Drug Control Policy in 1999 designated Jackson County as a high-intensity drug trafficking area. Clackamas, Deschutes, Douglas, Marion, Multnomah and Washington counties also have HIDTA status. Chuck Karl, director of Oregon’s HIDTA program, said JACNET has been doing its job, but can’t afford to take a break. "They have been meeting their goals as far as the HIDTA program is concerned," Karl said. "There are plenty of drug problems in Jackson County, and they have a lot of work ahead of them." Reach reporter Jack Moran at 776-4459, or e-mail [email protected] . Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities