NCJ Number
58360
Journal
DRUG ENFORCEMENT Volume: 4 Issue: 1 Dated: (FEBRUARY 1977) Pages: 23-25
Date Published
1977
Length
3 pages
Annotation
NEVADA'S EFFORTS TO REDUCE THE SIZEABLE VOLUME OF DRUG SMUGGLING AND DRUGS DISPENSED ILLEGALLY BY PHYSICIANS, PHARMACISTS, AND HOSPITALS ARE DISCUSSED.
Abstract
BECAUSE OF ITS ABUNDANCE OF FLAT, SPARSELY POPULATED LAND, NEVADA HAS BEEN A HAVEN FOR DRUG SMUGGLERS BRINGING THEIR PRODUCTS IN BY AIR. RECOGNIZING AN UNPRECEDENTED RISE IN ILLEGAL DRUG USE IN NEVADA, THE STATE LEGISLATURE CREATED A NEW STATE LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY IN 1969, THE NEVADA DIVISION OF INVESTIGATION AND NARCOTICS, (NDIN). THE DIVISION WAS ASSIGNED TO DETECT AND APPREHEND MAJOR NARCOTICS VIOLATORS AND SOURCES OF SUPPLY, ENFORCE STATUTES RELATED TO THE LEGAL DISPENSATION OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES, AND PROVIDE SPECIAL ASSISTANCE AND TRAINING TO LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES. IN 1975, A SPECIAL CRACKDOWN BEGAN ON AERIAL SMUGGLERS. NDIN TEAMED UP WITH THE FEDERAL DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION AND LOCAL POLICE AGENCIES IN THE RENO AREA TO FORM A METROPOLITAN TASK FORCE TARGETED TOWARD BREAKING UP MAJOR SMUGGLING RINGS USING AREAS OF NEVADA FOR LANDING STRIPS; MAJOR BREAKTHOUGHS IN ENFORCEMENT OCCURRED. EACH ARREST SPAWNED NEW LEADS TO AID IN BREAKING UP MAJOR SMUGGLING OPERATIONS. STATISTICS, SOME GATHERED FROM CORONERS' RECORDS INDICATING CAUSES OF DEATH, REVEALED AN INCREASING PROBLEM WITH LARGE AMOUNTS OF DRUGS BEING DISPENSED ILLEGALLY THROUGH PHYSICIANS, PHARMACISTS, AND HOSPITALS. TO AID IN DEALING WITH THIS PROBLEM, NDIN ADDED THREE AGENTS WHO ARE REGISTERED PHARMACISTS. THIS STRATEGY PROVED EFFECTIVE, AS NINE CASES INVOLVING ILLICIT SUBSTANCES WERE CLOSED DURING A RECENT SIX-MONTH PERIOD; EIGHT MORE WERE TURNED OVER TO THE STATE PHARMACEUTICAL BOARD; AND TEN REMAIN UNDER INVESTIGATION OR PENDING COURT ACTION. (RCB)