State Gives Grant to Fight Meth
The California Office of Emergency Services will provide Ventura County with $350,000 as part of $29 million in grants given to 40 counties for combating methamphetamine use and distribution.
Ventura County plans to use the grant to purchase surveillance technology and pay the cost of two newly created positions. One of the new positions will oversee efforts to thwart methamphetamine sales conducted via the Internet, while the other will analyze crime-related information.
Oxnard Police Sgt. Bob Thomas notes that the number of arrests for methamphetamine-related charges now surpasses cocaine- and crack-related arrests in the area.
Law enforcement officers note that methamphetamine users are likely to engage in other types of criminal activity. Thomas remarked that identity-theft is a common crime committed by methamphetamine users.
Abstracted by the National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center (NLECTC) from the Ventura County Star (CA); 12/26/06; Navarro, Marisa.