×

HUNT has positive impact on region

When a community suffers from a drug problem, it’s like an octopus whose tentacles reach far and wide.

Naturally the problem impacts the user, and abuser. But the problem also often impacts relationships with a spouse or friend, impacts parenting skills, affects employment and, in some instances, leads to crime.

Drug problems aren’t limited to a certain age group, gender or nationality. Drug problems care less what neighborhood you grew up in, where you went to school and what kind of car you drive.

Ultimately, the fabric of a community is soon tattered and unravels if drug issues are left unchecked. But here in Northeast Michigan, that is where the Huron Undercover Narcotics Team comes in.

HUNT officials just released their annual report for 2016. The report is filled with interesting statistics and information, some of which I thought I would share with readers this morning.

For instance, HUNT Commander Stuart Sharp shared that “the 99 drug related cases that initiated during the year resulted in 196 drug related charges. This is an indication of the complexity of the investigations in order to identify multiple individuals participating in the web of narcotics trafficking and production.”

HUNT was established in 1990 and since then it has removed $9.6 million worth of illegal drugs from the streets of the region, as well as 456 illegal firearms. A total of 3,981 investigations were initiated by the team, resulting in the arrest of 3,290 people.

So what kinds of drugs can one find in Northeast Michigan? The answer to that is simple — everything and anything.

Last year the HUNT team investigated three cases related to cocaine, 16 related to heroin, 34 related to marijuana, 24 related to methamphetamine, 19 to opiate abuse and two to psilocybin.

Of the cases above, 39 percent of the investigations occurred in the city limits of Alpena, 39 percent in Alpena County, 11 percent in Montmorency County, 6 percent in Alcona County, 2 percent in Presque Isle County and 2 percent elsewhere in the state assisting other departments.

OK, with all the investigations,what about arrests?

Last year the team’s investigations led to a total of 267 overall charges and of those, 167 were felony charges, 48 were misdemeanor charges and 52 were fugitive related. And of the 267, 196 were drug related and the rest included things like felony firearm possession, carrying concealed weapon, resisting or obstructing arrest, witness intimidation, prostitution, evidence tampering, sex offender registration violations and driving while license was suspended.

In addition, last year HUNT officers seized $28,937 worth of property that consisted of five vehicles, $14,137 in cash, three hand guns, two long guns and other drug trafficking items.

Obviously, these were not Boy or Girl Scouts that the HUNT team was dealing with.

We live in an area where the quality of life often is second to none, thus we tend to be a bit skeptical when you hear about drug abuse, trafficking or crime. But as evidence by these statistics, no area is immune from society’s problems. Nor can any of us believe that we can’t be affected by the “cause and effects” of drug-related crime.

When you consider the statistics, the money area governments contribute each year for HUNT operations seems like a wise investment in our future.

Bill Speer can be reached via email at bspeer@thealpenanews.com or by phone at 354-3111 ext. 331. Follow Bill on Twitter @billspeer13.

Newsletter

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

Starting at $4.62/week.

Subscribe Today