Santa Rosa County designated high intensity drug trafficking area -Escambia County also on list - br
By JENNIE McKEON 315-4434 | @JennieMnwfdn jmckeon@nwfdailynews.com
SANTA ROSA COUNTY — The Office of National Drug Control Policy has named Santa Rosa County as a High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA).
Law enforcement agencies in the region worked together to file an application through the U.S. State Attorney’s Office to receive the designation, said John Molchan, assistant state attorney.
Being named HIDTA means eligibility for federal resources for drug control efforts among federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement officials.
For Molchan, who specializes in major crimes, the designation comes as very good news.
“The initiative provides additional money for increased enforcement and overtime work on drug cases,” he said.
It also means creating a communication network among HIDTA counties and states by enhancing law enforcement intelligence and through the support of coordinated law enforcement strategies.
Prevention and treatment initiatives are other elements to the program.
The program is not well-known, Molchan said. According to Whitehouse.gov, there are 42 HIDTAs nationwide. Santa Rosa and Escambia counties were the only two Northwest Florida locations to make the list.
The HIDTA program was created by Congress in 1988 with the Anti-Drug Abuse Act.
Santa Rosa County’s proximity to Interstate 10 was a “key component” in the application process, Molchan said.
“It’s a well-known drug corridor,” he added. “It’s been that way for years.”
When it comes to the types of drug cases in the area, Molchan said it’s across the board, with an increase in heroin cases in the last two to three years.
Rich Aloy, spokesperson with Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office said drugs are the No.1 priority at the agency.
“We’ll be happy to partake in any programs that reduce drugs in Santa Rosa County,” he said.
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