Ayotte Advocates for NH Law Enforcement Agencies on Front Lines of Heroin Epidemic

Press Release

U.S. Senator Kelly Ayotte today renewed her call for the U.S. Department of Justice to reinstate equitable sharing payments to participating state and local law enforcement agencies under the Asset Forfeiture Program. Law enforcement officials in New Hampshire have repeatedly called for the release of funds from the Asset Forfeiture Program that are currently being withheld due to the Justice Department's decision to defer equitable sharing payments until further notice.

"Law enforcement officials on the front lines of New Hampshire's prescription opioid and heroin crisis must have all appropriate tools and resources available to them to disrupt drug trafficking organizations and take drugs off the streets. State and local law enforcement agencies rely on equitable sharing payments derived from their joint participation with federal authorities to sustain and support their ongoing participation in those operations, which are a critical component of combatting the prescription opioid and heroin epidemic in New Hampshire. I urge the Department of Justice to act quickly and reinstate equitable sharing payments to participating state and local law enforcement agencies," said Ayotte.

Last month, Senator Ayotte wrote to U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch urging the Department of Justice to reinstate equitable sharing payments to participating state and local law enforcement agencies under the Asset Forfeiture Program as soon as possible.

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