The use of illegal drugs and the abuse of prescription drugs is a major problem in Jones County. The Jones County Sheriff’s Department is attacking this problem on multiple fronts to include enforcement, education, awareness, and assisting in rehabilitation.
The enforcement aspect of both illegal drugs and illegal use of prescription drugs is centered on the interdiction of the supply chain and dealing with the user. Much of our illegal drug problem is in the form of methamphetamine. The number of meth labs in Jones County have significantly decreased during the past couple of years but we continue to seek out information as to where these labs are located, seize them, and arrest the operators.
The illegal use of prescription drugs continues to be a problem in that more and more people are obtaining these drugs through government subsidy programs and reselling the drugs for substantial profit. The sheriff’s department is addressing this problem in much of the same manner as we address other aspects of illegal drug interdiction.
Drug education and awareness programs are developed by the sheriff’s department and presented to all county schools and other organizations. Our objective in this case is prevention rather than apprehension. These education programs are directed at children beginning at the fourth and fifth grade levels.
We work closely with the courts and families of drug addicts to get drug addicts into various rehabilitation programs within the state. The key to the success of rehabilitation depends upon the desire of the addict to rid them self of a drug life.
All members of the Jones County Sheriff's Office are responsible for working drugs as part of their normal daily schedule. It may be as simple as arresting someone on a traffic stop for possession of drugs or as complex as working a large case which can take time.
As information is gathered on suspected drug dealers or manufacturing operations, a file is started. All tips are investigated and as the information is verified or more tips are received, we begin to "put the pieces together" and form a plan. Once enough information is received for a search warrant on a person or place, a judge will review the information. If the information meets the required criteria, the judge will sign the warrant. Officers will meet, finalize plans and execute the search warrant. Sometimes these plans can be finalized in days, but it can take weeks or months to work a large case.
We appreciate all information that the citizens of Jones County provide to us. If you give us information we will look at all the information.
Remember, we live here too, and want the drugs gone just like you do. So call in or e-mail us with your tips today.
Narcotics Division:
Sheriff Alex Hodge
looks over $305,080
in cash seized by
Deputies
during a traffic stop |
Meth lab busted by
Jones County Narcotic
Investigators on DrySwamp Road |
Sheriff Hodge looks
over Drug Seizure |
Components of a
Meth Lab |
Precursors Used to
Manufacture Meth |
Seizure of Narcotics
that are Packaged
to Sell |
Drugs,weapon and
cash seized after
a traffic stop |
Illegal drugs seized
by JCSD Interstate
Interdiction Unit |
|
