2004 Annual Report - City of Fairbanks

ABADE/METRO
The term METRO is short for the Metropolitan Drug Task Force that was established
in the early 1970’s . At the time Fairbanks Police Department Detective Roland
Bonneville and Alaska State Trooper Investigator Joe Turner established the METRO
Unit. The focus of attention during the early years of METRO was to target vice
crimes such as prostitution. During the early to mid 1970’s the Alaska Pipeline was
under construction, bringing a rapid increase to the Fairbanks-area population. The
influx of people also brought increased prostitution, gambling and illegal drug
trafficking. This led to the expansion of the unit to include Drug Enforcement
Administration (DEA) Special Agent Dick Widner, who assisted with case
investigations.
The mission of today’s Alaska Bureau of Alcohol and Drug Enforcement (ABADE)
Unit is to interdict and seize alcohol and controlled substances that are illegally
distributed throughout Alaska. The unit identifies and arrests distributors of
controlled substances and alcohol. The unit also provides support and participation
in public education programs. To accomplish this mission there are six ABADE
investigative teams that are spread throughout Alaska.
The Fairbanks ABADE Unit primarily focuses on Interior Alaska, extending north to
Barrow and east to the Canadian border. The team is currently made up of Alaska
State Trooper Sergeant Ron Wall, Alaska State Trooper Investigators Jess Carson and
Jason Pugh, Fairbanks Police Investigator Bruce Barnett and University of Alaska
Investigator Steve Goetze. In recent years the D.E.A. has reestablished their office in
Fairbanks, which is staffed with two Special Agents to assist with case investigations
when requested.
During 2004 the unit focused investigations on cocaine, crack cocaine,
methamphetamine, marijuana-grows and alcohol importation.
In 2004 the ABADE team initiated 373 drug and alcohol cases. In the process they:
� Dismantled 9 methamphetamine labs
� Dismantled 13 marijuana grows.
� Arrested 94 persons on State charges.
� Arrested 9 persons on Federal charges.
� Illegal drugs seized (street value) during
State case investigations:$1,450,134.50
� Illegal drugs seized (street value) during
Federal case investigations: $1,544,721.00
� Total assets seized by forfeiture:
$155,164.17.
The growth and proliferation of Methamphetamine labs continue to plague the
Fairbanks area. Ongoing manufacture, use, and distribution of Methamphetamine
presents a wide range of public safety hazards to both law enforcement and
community members.
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