The Claytor Lake Regional Drug Task Force and Twin County Drug Task Force have been jointly awarded the Appalachia High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force of the Year for Virginia.
The Virginia State Police lead the task forces, but both are joint efforts with participation from Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office, Town of Pulaski Police Department, Wythe County Sheriff’s Office, Carroll County Sheriff’s Office, Galax Police Department, and Grayson County Sheriff’s Office.
The High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area program is administered by the Office of National Drug Control Policy.
Appalachia HIDTA is an important component of the President’s National Drug Control Strategy, which provides additional federal resources to help eliminate or reduce drug trafficking and its harmful consequences. Law enforcement organizations within HIDTA assess drug trafficking problems and design specific initiatives to reduce or eliminate the production, manufacture, transportation, distribution, and chronic use of illegal drugs, as well as money laundering.
Director Vic Brown said, “The combined efforts of Claytor Lake Regional Drug Task Force and Twin County Drug Task Force led to a seizure of more than 58 pounds of Methamphetamine, over 6 pounds of Cocaine and 4700 doses of Fentanyl in 2020. This seizure has undoubtedly saved lives and made a difference in Southwest Virginia. This type of impactful investigation also holds accountable those who would poison our communities with these lethal drugs.”
