OKLAHOMA BUREAU OF NARCOTICS
AND DANGEROUS DRUGS CONTROL
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 9, 2007
CONTACT: OBNDD SPOKESMAN MARK WOODWARD, (405) 521-2885 OR (800) 522-8031
NARCOTICS BUREAU DEPLOYS MOBILE OPERATIONS TEAM TO HALT CLINTON AREA DRUG DEALERS
The Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics (OBN) has ended a month-long undercover drug sting in Clinton resulting in numerous arrests and search warrants. OBN Spokesman Mark Woodward says agents and officers from several departments fanned out around 8:00 this morning armed with arrest warrants for nearly 50 defendants accused of selling drugs to undercover OBN agents.
“Last year, OBN created a Mobile Operations Team
(M.O.T.). This unit is designed to identify and target
drug suspects within specific communities, statewide.
Throughout the month of July, OBN agents assigned to
our M.O.T. unit were in Clinton making undercover drug
buys from several dealers in the area. Today, our
M.O.T unit wrapped up its investigation by rounding
up those defendants.”
---Mark Woodward, OBN Spokesman
Woodward says the undercover drug buys involved crack cocaine. The defendants in this investigation will face State charges of Distribution of a Controlled Dangerous Substance. OBN Director Darrell Weaver says this investigation emphasizes the importance of the M.O.T. unit.
“The Mobile Operations Team consists of a group
of highly covert, veteran undercover agents strategically
deployed into an area local law enforcement have identified
as troubled spots within their communities. The Bureau
agents go undercover and secure the evidence themselves
rather than utilizing confidential informants thus making cases
that have an extremely high conviction rate.
I believe that the ripple effect after the MOT unit has
conducted an operation will have a paralyzing presence
because drug violators will not know if or when they are a
ctually selling to a state narcotic agent. Our agency is committed
to assist local law enforcement to disrupt and dismantle illicit
drug cell groups in Oklahoma. The recently adopted mission
statement of the bureau is, “ Committed to honor, integrity
and excellence the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics will
serve the citizens of Oklahoma in a quest for a drug free
state” and the Mobile Operations Team is one of tools
to assist us in pursuing our mission.”
---OBN Director Darrell Weaver
Woodward says other agencies assisting today included the Clinton Police Department, the Custer County Sheriffs Department, Oklahoma Highway Patrol, and District Attorney Drug Task Force officers. Woodward says similar M.O.T. investigations have taken place in Woodward, Bartlesville and Stillwater, with additional operations planned for the near future in areas all across the state.
Director Weaver says today’s round-up is just the first phase of the overall mission.
“We are enacting an even more comprehensive approach
to the drug issues facing our communities by adding a
critical element to our program. OBN will host a public
forum at the conclusion of each Mobile Operations Team
mission. This will be in cooperation with drug
education, treatment opportunities and other resources
to assist the communities in keeping the drug offenders from
being repeat offenders. It’s much too important for the
citizens of this state; not only to arrest violators and clean
neighborhoods but we must also be in the business of
restoring peoples lives. With assistance from faith-based
and community organizations, all of Oklahoma can participate
in reducing the illicit drug plague that is daily robbing our
society of the good. My goal as the Director of the Oklahoma
Bureau of Narcotics is the quest for a drug free state. We
must have ambitious, comprehensive systems in place to be
successful. Our strategies must focus and attack both the
supply side and the demand side of this challenging problem.”
---OBN Director Darrell Weaver
Woodward says 29 of the 50 defendants are in custody as of 1:30 p.m. today. Woodward says today’s round-up will be followed by a Public Forum on Substance Abuse scheduled for Monday, August 27 at the Frisco Center Exhibition Hall in Clinton, beginning at 7:00 p.m. to further discuss drug enforcement, prevention and treatment issues within the community and the schools.