(Spencer)– The Iowa Great Lakes Drug Task Force saw an increase in activity over the last year.
The task force released statistics Monday showing more than 200 people were charged for drug trafficking offenses as a result of its operation. Of those, task force coordinator Duane Bates, Chief Deputy with the Clay County Sheriff’s Office, says 65 were felony offenses.
Bates says the task force has seen an increase from 29 hours to 49 hours a month in overtime reported by its member-agencies. The additional man hours are supported through federal grants, which Bates says are crucial to the task force’s existence.
Bates adds the Iowa Great Lakes Drug Task Force continues to focus on the use of methamphetamine, manufacturing of meth and dealers of the drug.
In addition, Bates says the task force is also seeing an increase in marijuana. He says the task force seized over five pounds of processed pot and over 100 plants in the past year.
The Iowa Great Lakes Drug Task Force consists of 12 area law enforcement agencies.
