Counties designated as part of intense drug trafficking area

Efforts to combat drug trafficking in St. Lawrence, Franklin and Clinton counties will get a long-awaited boost with their designation as part of the federal New York/New Jersey High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area.

Democratic U.S. Sens. Charles E. Schumer and Kirstin E. Gillibrand, along with Rep. John M. McHugh, R-Pierrepont Manor, have been pushing the Office of National Drug Control Policy to include the three counties and Jefferson County in the HIDTA program. On Thursday, the lawmakers issued a joint statement saying the applications for all but Jefferson County won approval.

The designation places the counties under a coordinating umbrella for federal, state and local agencies. When an area is designated, it can receive federal money to help local law enforcement clamp down on drug trafficking.

"As we've seen in a number of our drug cases here, these individuals who are moving drugs through Franklin County and the north country are linked to other parts of the state, and other parts of the U.S. and Canada," Franklin County District Attorney Derek P. Champagne said. "The HIDTA designation will give us quicker access to information gathered by other agencies in other locations that may be relevant to our cases here."

Coordinated enforcement is not the only benefit.

"And there's also a financial component," Mr. Champagne said. "This could mean money for rent, lights and phone for the (Franklin County Narcotics and Border Task Force), or money for additional analysts and investigators — anything related to drug trafficking. Those are all expenses that would normally be covered by local and state funding sources. Based on the impact our cases here have on places far removed from us, I think using some federal funds to further our efforts is appropriate. This is a tremendous step forward for the northern border and Franklin County."

At the time the application was filed, Mr. Schumer, Mr. McHugh and then-Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton wrote the White House, stressing their strong support.

Mr. Schumer questioned Office of National Drug Control Policy Director R. Gil Kerlikowske about the matter both in a private meeting, and publicly at Mr. Kerlikowske's Senate confirmation hearing.

The three also introduced legislation earlier this spring requiring that the counties be added.

"This has been a long, tough fight, but I am so glad that we have finally gotten this application approved," Mr. Schumer said in a release.