Letter to Michele Leonhart, Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration - Fighting Drug Crimes in North Dakota

Letter

Michele M. Leonhart
Administrator
Drug Enforcement Administration
U.S. Department of Justice
8701 Morrissette Drive
Springfield, VA 22152

Dear Administrator Leonhart:

The White House's National Drug Control Strategy and the new crime statistics from the North Dakota Attorney General's Office show an increase in drug crime in North Dakota. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) needs to do all it can to work with local, state and other federal officials to counter the increase in drug cases, including dedicating more fulltime DEA agents to western North Dakota.

According to crime statistics released today by the North Dakota Attorney General's Office, drug crimes are up 19.5 percent over last year's levels. Many of the drug cases involve significant quantities compared to prior years and include new and dangerous types of drugs. DEA has the expertise to help our local sheriffs and state agencies investigate drug crimes but unfortunately local officials believe they are not receiving adequate assistance from your organization.

It is critical that DEA dedicate sufficient staff, both fulltime and on a needed basis, to help investigate drug cases. This includes dedicating DEA agents on local narcotic taskforces in western North Dakota. I urge you to work with local and state officials to get DEA agents into the field as soon as possible.

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