District Attorney thanks drug task force contributors
District Attorney Greg Griggers realized in 2011 that a special unit was needed to combat illegal drugs in the 17th Judicial District.
He set about forming a drug task force within his office, but like most ventures, funding soon became scarce. When grants from the state dried up, he turned to local businesses and individuals, who responded in a big way.
Thursday, Griggers hosted a luncheon for major contributors to the drug task force.
“This can’t come close to repaying you,” Griggers told the group, “but it is a token of our appreciation. The way we can repay you is by keeping drugs out of Greene, Sumter and Marengo counties. That will help you, your businesses and your children.”
Griggers said the task force is now self-sufficient, and that some grant funding – $55,000 a year – has been restored.
“It’s because of y’all’s generosity that we are better than we have ever been,” Griggers said. “We have now figured out a way to fund ourselves. We have the funds to operate the drug task force for some time if we are good stewards of that money, and I promise you we will be that. But we wouldn’t be where we are without your generosity.”
Among the accomplishments of the past year, according to Griggers, the task force has:
- Made 133 cases
- Made 41 arrests
- Seized 128.02 grams of powder cocaine, 431.08 grams of crack, 85,355.9 grams of marijuana, and 43,005.7 grams of meth, among other drugs.
- Seized $1,764,711 in cash, six cars and 15 guns.
Of the cash, his office has been awarded $717,539 and participating agencies have been awarded $42,123.