Ask any law enforcement officer and they will tell you: Most crimes involve drugs in some way.And the problems go way beyond the usual possession, distribution or manufacturing of illegal narcotics. Drug users looking to finance their addictions burglarize property and rob individuals. Drug transactions can turn violent, and dealers often take up arms against each other to protect their “turf” – and as often as not, innocent bystanders get caught in the crossfire.
Illegal drugs have plagued communities across the country for decades – crack cocaine and, especially, methamphetamines have significantly increased the scope of the problem, affecting people from all races and walks of life.
The cities and communities in Talladega are no exception, and because of the rural nature of the area, methamphetamine use and manufacturing are particularly problematic here.
But thanks to a spirit of cooperation and lots of hard work by local, state and federal law enforcement agencies, 68 drug offenders are off the streets today.
Agencies ranging from the Postal Service to federal Marshals to local sheriff’s and police departments took part over the past week in Operation FALCON that netted hundreds of arrests in our part of the Northern District of Alabama.
That means fewer dealers to manufacture and sell drugs here and fewer customers to drive that kind of business.
As a result, our streets and our communities are that much safer today, and we hope well into the future. The number of arrests and the broad scope of Operation FALCON sends a strong message to drug dealers that Talladega County does not want their business.
And the arrests were not limited to drug-related crimes. Warrants were served on people wanted for a wide range of crimes, including sexual abuse and murder.
We applaud the brave men and women who put their lives on the line and worked so hard to bring these criminals to justice and to help make Talladega County a better place to live.
