FRANKFORT, Ky. – Kentucky State Police and other law enforcement agencies throughout the Commonwealth discovered 23 meth labs, seized more than 2,400 pounds of marijuana, identified 16 drug endangered children and arrested 565 individuals in connection with illegal drug use in a 24-hour period.  The one-day blitz was part of a national effort to highlight the effectiveness of concentrated drug enforcement activities.

During “Operation Byrne Blitz,” which took place Wednesday, state police and highway patrol agencies, local police and sheriff’s departments, and drug task forces throughout the country conducted undercover investigations, marijuana eradication efforts and drug interdiction activities.  The collaborative effort, named for the federal grant program which funds many of the anti-drug efforts, underscored the impact that cuts to this funding could have on local and statewide drug enforcement.

Statewide, this week's operation resulted in the seizure of  264 grams of methamphetamine; 9.6 kilos of cocaine; 56 grams of crack cocaine; 1 gram of heroin, and more than 2,700 units of prescription drugs.  Officers also confiscated 80 firearms and served 28 search warrants.

In addition, during the blitz, KSP officers arrested Clarence Tester in Wolfe County, who was wanted for allegedly shooting his wife twice at a Hardee’s restaurant in Jackson.

 “The impact of our drug task forces can be clearly seen in the success of this one-day blitz,” said Justice and Public Safety Secretary J. Michael Brown.  “While combining these efforts in a 24–hour period makes a statement, it’s important to remember that these types of activities go on every day, and are a critical tool in eradicating illegal use.”

The omnibus appropriation bill for FY 08 passed by Congress in December slashed the Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant program by $350 million, or 67 percent.  Kentucky’s estimated share of the funds will fall from $5.3 million to $1.7 million as a result of the cut.

 “The large number of arrests and seizures that each drug task force made is representative of what Kentucky’s law enforcement can accomplish when resources are pulled together to take illegal drugs off the streets,” said Tommy Loving, executive director of Kentucky Narcotics Officers Association.  “As a statewide organization, KNOA is hopeful that Congress will see how devastating cuts of this magnitude would be to intensive drug enforcement efforts like these.”

The Edward Byrne grant program is named for a New York City police officer who was killed at a young age by organized drug traffickers trying to prevent a witness from being able to testify in a drug case.