Rep. Love Calls For Multi-State Meth Task Force

Rep. Love Calls For Multi-State Meth Task Force
posted December 13, 2005

State Rep. Sally Love Tuesday called for the creation of a multi-state task force of federal, state and local law-enforcement officials to examine the illegal trafficking of Mexican-made methamphetamine across state lines in Tennessee, Georgia and Alabama.

Rep. Love, an attorney, said creating a new task force is a logical “next step” following the success of Gov. Bredesen’s Task Force on Methamphetamine Abuse. “The Governor’s Meth-Free Tennessee Initiative is doing an excellent job cutting the number of homegrown meth labs by more than 50% and increasing public awareness surrounding this deadly drug,” Rep. Love said. “But we’ve still got work to do in the war on meth.”

In particular, Rep. Love said, Tennessee needs to turn its attention to Mexican-made meth flowing into Southeast Tennessee up the Interstate 59 and Interstate 75 corridors from Alabama and Georgia. According to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Rep. Love said, “Southeast Tennessee has seen a significant increase in the activities of structured Mexican methamphetamine trafficking groups.” The criminal groups — some of which are based in Dalton, Ga. — control meth distribution around the tri-state region.

With this in mind, Rep. Love sent a letter to Gov. Bredesen asking him to reach out to Georgia Gov. Perdue and Alabama Gov. Riley to request their participation and support in forming a multi-state meth task force to focus on the issue. “Federal, state and local authorities are doing an excellent job working with the resources they have available,” Rep. Love said. “What we need now is a multi-state framework to encourage additional dialogue, communication and coordination.”

Rep. Love said she hoped a multi-state task force might be in place as early as spring 2006. “After years of turning a blind eye to the proliferation of homegrown meth labs, the State finally took action in 2004 and 2005 under Gov. Bredesen’s leadership,” Rep. Love said. “The key to fighting this drug is staying ahead of the game. Any effort we can put forth to diminish interstate meth trafficking is effort worth making.”

Rep. Love was appointed to represent House District 22 — including Meigs and Polk counties, and part of Bradley County — following the resignation of former State Rep. Chris Newton. Gov. Bredesen has called for a special election for District 22 on Jan. 12. Early voting begins Dec. 27 and ends Jan. 7.