DEA
and the State of Florida Establish Statewide Methamphetamine Strategy
On
December 15, 2003, Florida Governor Jeb Bush approved the Florida Statewide
Methamphetamine Strategy. This is a joint agreement between the Drug Enforcement
Administration, the Florida Office of Drug Control Policy and the Florida
Department of Law Enforcement. The purpose of the strategy is to improve
the overall effectiveness and efficiency of law enforcement's response
in Florida to the growing threat of clandestine laboratories. In the past
three years, clandestine lab seizures in Florida have gone from 28 in
FY 2001 to 231 in FY 2003. Governor Bush stated that he was "pleased
at the latest federal and state partnership to address a real problem
in our communities." The approved strategy will result in the creation
of six regional teams, strategically located throughout the state, to
provide guidance to law enforcement agencies to coordinate clean up activities
and respond to clandestine lab sites more effectively. The strategy will
also establish protocol procedures statewide for law enforcement agencies
to follow when discovering a clandestine laboratory. Emphasis will be
placed on education and training in clandestine laboratory certification
and site safety. The Florida Statewide Methamphetamine Strategy was signed
in Tallahassee, Florida on December 15 by Special Agent in Charge Thomas
W. Raffanello, DEA Miami Field Division, Director James McDonough, Florida
Office of Drug Control Policy and Commissioner Guy M. Tunnell, Florida
Department of Law Enforcement. SAC Raffanello stated that "DEA recognizes
the growing problem of methamphetamine manufacture and abuse in Florida,
and is committed to working with our state and local counterparts in an
effort to stop this disturbing trend."
From left to right:
Commissioner Tunnell, SAC Raffanello, Director McDonough
Press conference
announcing the strategy with Director McDonough at podium, then
left to right Commissioner Tunnell and SAC Raffanello.
On
December 15, 2003, Florida Governor Jeb Bush approved the Florida Statewide
Methamphetamine Strategy. This is a joint agreement between the Drug Enforcement
Administration, the Florida Office of Drug Control Policy and the Florida
Department of Law Enforcement. The purpose of the strategy is to improve
the overall effectiveness and efficiency of law enforcement's response
in Florida to the growing threat of clandestine laboratories. In the past
three years, clandestine lab seizures in Florida have gone from 28 in
FY 2001 to 231 in FY 2003. Governor Bush stated that he was "pleased
at the latest federal and state partnership to address a real problem
in our communities." The approved strategy will result in the creation
of six regional teams, strategically located throughout the state, to
provide guidance to law enforcement agencies to coordinate clean up activities
and respond to clandestine lab sites more effectively. The strategy will
also establish protocol procedures statewide for law enforcement agencies
to follow when discovering a clandestine laboratory. Emphasis will be
placed on education and training in clandestine laboratory certification
and site safety. The Florida Statewide Methamphetamine Strategy was signed
in Tallahassee, Florida on December 15 by Special Agent in Charge Thomas
W. Raffanello, DEA Miami Field Division, Director James McDonough, Florida
Office of Drug Control Policy and Commissioner Guy M. Tunnell, Florida
Department of Law Enforcement. SAC Raffanello stated that "DEA recognizes
the growing problem of methamphetamine manufacture and abuse in Florida,
and is committed to working with our state and local counterparts in an
effort to stop this disturbing trend." 
