Kootenai County receives more anti-drug funds

COEUR d’ALENE – Kootenai County recently received federal funds to better focus on interstate drug activity. It is now part of the Idaho/Oregon High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area, which also includes Ada and Bannock counties in southern Idaho as well as 11 Oregon counties and the Warm Springs Reservation.

This designation by the U.S. Office of National Drug Control Policy provides grants to federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies in a specific area to better coordinate activities and share information about illegal activity moving through the region, including cannabis.

Idaho State Police Capt. John Kempf said Kootenai County has had the highest amounts of illegal drug seizures in the state in the last few years, including methamphetamine from Mexico.

He said the Interstate 90 corridor, which spans 100 miles of Idaho, sees a large amount of drug activity. Many of those arrested say they are bringing product purchased legally in Washington and Oregon to the East Coast to be resold for a higher margin.

Source: Associated Press