Grant will pay to fight drugs

By Staff
Gov. Bob Riley has awarded a $112,217 grant to battle drug traffickers in Madison and Morgan counties.
The grant will enable the Madison-Morgan County Strategic Counterdrug Team to continue its efforts to reduce the sale and distribution of illegal drugs in the two north Alabama counties. The specialized law enforcement unit gathers information and conducts investigations to arrest and prosecute drug offenders.
The unit comprises 13 full-time drug agents and support staff from the Madison County Sheriff’s Department, the Madison County District Attorney’s office and the cities of Huntsville, Madison and Decatur.
A portion of the grant will be used to purchase surveillance and other equipment to assist officers to conduct undercover investigations, apprehend offenders and gather evidence for successful prosecutions.
The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs is administering the grant from funds made available to the state by the U.S. Department of Justice. Local matching funds of $112,217 will supplement the award. The city of Huntsville will administer the grant.