Schumer, Owens want Jefferson County named as drug trafficking area

Three federal representatives want Jefferson County designated as a "high intensity drug trafficking area" so that it can receive more federal funds to combat smuggling operations.

U.S. Sens. Charles E. Schumer and then-Rep. John M. McHugh made the push last year to have Jefferson, St. Lawrence, Franklin and Clinton designated by the National Drug Control Policy Office, only to see Jefferson be the only county denied.

Now Mr. Schumer has renewed his call, joined by fellow Sen. Kirsten E. Gillibrand and Rep. William L. Owens, Mr. McHugh's replacement in Congress.

“We have a major highway, border crossing, and 268 square miles of coastline to protect from drug-trafficking," said Jefferson County Sheriff John Burns. "This designation will put the Jefferson County Sherriff’s Department in a place to fight this problem harder than ever before.”

Mr. Schumer's office said smugglers are taking advantage of the terrain, interconnecting roadways and inadequate law enforcement resources to facilitate the transportation and distribution of large quantities of Canadian produced marijuana and MDMA through Jefferson County. Interstate 81 provides a significant route for drug traffickers to transport drugs from Canada to Syracuse, ultimately leading south to Interstate 87 and connecting to New York City.

See Tuesday's Times for more information.