Crime Solutions Task Force: I-10 Drug Trafficking

By Jessica Taloney Reporter

The convenience of the Interstate brings the consequence of crime. Crime Solutions Task Force: I-10 Drug Trafficking

Published: Fri, August 01, 2008 - 4:00 pm Last Updated: Fri, August 01, 2008 - 4:49 pm

Jessica Taloney

Baldwin County prides itself on not having much crime. With a strong police force and dedicated sheriff's deputies, Daphne, the site of this week's Home Town Tour, was named one of Money Magazine's "Top 100 Places To Live" in 2005.

One of the assets that has made Daphne such a hot spot for growth is immediate access to Interstate 10, but unfortunately, with the convenience of a major drag, also comes the potential for unwelcome visitors.

"We enjoy a lower crime rate than Mobile and Pensacola areas, but that's fading away," said Baldwin County Sheriff Huey "Hoss" Mack. "Recently Atlanta has been identified as the number one narcotics distribution point in the United States. We have two major interstates coming through our county that are both major routes from the south and southwest to Atlanta."

Sheriff Mack says investigators receive tips every day about narcotics smuggled across south Alabama on the interstate, so Baldwin County teamed up with Mobile County, and several police agencies in between, to crack down on drug smugglers. The agencies formed a joint group called the Interdiction Task Force. Officers on the task force are cross deputized, allowing them to continue investigations across county lines.

"The benefits are for all of our communities," says Mobile County Sheriff Sam Cochran. "Whether it is our community or some other community in a different part of the state or country, it's important for all of us to contribute to the anti-drug effort."

Sheriff Cochran says the task force became active in early spring and already touts several major successes. Earlier this summer, investigators arrested a Texas woman caught with 500 pounds of high-grade marijuana, a bust worth $700,000. This week, the task force followed a tip to track down two suspects accused of trafficking cocaine from Atlanta. That bust turned into a chase resulting in the death of one of the suspects, which Sheriff Mack says proves the dangerous nature of the officers' job.

"He asked the driver to step out of the vehicle so he could talk to him further, and at that point the driver floored it," said Mack about last week's bust. "A chase ensued all the way from Baldwin County into Prichard. Ultimately one of the individuals died when he was struck by one of the police cars when he tried to flee the scene on foot."

Investigators from both counties hope by pooling their resources, they'll stay one step ahead of the criminals.