FREQUENTLY ASK
QUESTIONS

West Georgia Drug Task Force wants to inform you on these little known Frequently Ask Questions:

Why does it take so long to investigate  drug crimes?

Police officers can not make an arrest or obtain a search warrant for drugs on mere suspicion. Anonymous tips from citizens about drug houses or individuals dealing drugs are important to police efforts, but is only a beginning in an actual drug investigation. Tips from citizens must be proved accurate independently by police officers in order for legal action to be taken. Sometimes independent verification may take months, other times it may occur in a matter of days.

• What is the West Georgia Drug Task Force?
  
  The WGDTF is a multi-jurisdictional narcotics investigative unit serving Carroll, Heard, and Meriwether Counties. The Task Force is composed of investigators from the Carrollton City Police, Villa Rica City Police, Meriwether County Sheriff's Office and the Heard County Sheriff's Office. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation provides a supervisor to the unit.
   

• What is Drug Trafficking?
  
  Drug trafficking may be best defined as a sufficient amount of an illegal substance that constitutes a higher penalty for its possession under Georgia Law. Each controlled substance has its own limit as to what may constitute either simple possession or trafficking.
   

• What is Methamphetamine?
  
  ° Methamphetamine hydrochloride is a highly addictive narcotic that appears as an off-white or white powdery or chunky substance. Methamphetamine is known on the street as "speed", or "crank". The use of meth includes smoking, injecting or ingestion.
  ° Japanese scientist A. Ogata first synthesized methamphetamine in 1919. The Axis powers in World War II distributed methamphetamine to its soldiers as a stimulant.
  ° In recent years, methamphetamine has been homemade in illegal clandestine laboratories operated by addicts and dealers.
  
  What is "Ice"?
  
  "Ice" is re-crystallized  methamphetamine or methamphetamine in its' purest state. Ice generally takes the form of clear crystallized chunks. It will dissolve in water and breaks down to smaller particles. The use of ice induces a sense of euphoria and stimulating the release of dopamine in the human brain. In this form, the drug can only be smoked. Ice is an extremely additive narcotic.
  
  What is cocaine?
  
  Cocaine is an alkaloid in the leaves of the South American shrub Erythroxylon coca and its powerful psycho stimulant which induces a sense of exhilaration by blocking the reuptake of neurotransmitter dopamine in the midbrain. Cocaine can be smoked (crack form), snorted, ingested or injected into the human body.
  
  What is marijuana?
  
  ° Marijuana is a cultivated herbal plant. The marijuana plant is a unique, green, leafy plant. Marijuana use induces a euphoric effect on the brain by the inhalation of smoke containing THC, a psycho stimulant.
  ° Marijuana is the most common of all drugs in North America.
  According to government statistics, about 140 million people-nearly 2.5% of the Earth's population-smoke marijuana.
  
  What is "ecstasy"?
  
  MDMA commonly referred to as ecstasy is a clandestinely created stimulant most commonly found in tablet or pill form. The drug is commonly referred to as "X" and is often distributed in nightclubs and on college campuses.
  
  What is a meth lab?
  
  Most simply, a meth lab is a certain collection of items, chemicals and equipment that, when used in certain orders, can produce methamphetamine.
  
  How can I identify a meth lab?
  
  A meth lab can be best identified through the collection of its parts.  A meth lab may not be a laboratory-type set up in one single location. The nature of clandestine methamphetamine manufacture indicates that meth lab components may be everyday household items, and therefore, not easily distinguishable by the lawman. Indicators, such as a large number of starting fluid cans, drain cleaners, coffee filters, mason jars, matchbooks, sinus pills, or their blister packs, lithium batteries and propane tanks are indicative of a meth lab. Strong odors such as ether or ammonia may be present. The toxic natures of meth labs dictate extreme caution when dealing with them. If you suspect items may part of a meth lab, one should never open to move contents, but instead, call your local authorities. (or contact us here)
  
  How can I identify a drug house?
  
  Dealers often use homes as a focal point for their customers to purchase drugs. Observations such as a high volume of short stay traffic or persons waiting outside for long periods of time-even in severe weather conditions-,ay indicate that a home is being used as a distribution point for illegal drugs.

• 
  How do I report drug activity in my area?
  
  If you have information concerning drug activity in your area, there are several options for you, as a citizen, to report the activity. If you are in Carroll, Heard, or Meriwether County areas, you may email or call the West Georgia Drug Task Force. Phone calls or emails may be anonymously given. Please check the "Links" section of our website for more information.
  
  How do Agents legal obtain search warrants?
  
  A search warrant for a residence or business suspected of being a distribution point for illegal narcotics is obtained through the lawful court order of a judge. This order is given to Agents upon them providing documentation and sworn testimony to a judge concerning suspected illegal activity at a given location. The Agent must demonstrate to the judge probable cause to believe that the illegal activity is ongoing. Probable cause is more than just suspicion but less than absolute certainty. Typically narcotics investigations ending with a search warrant at a residence take weeks to months to complete.
  
  What are some indicators of drug abuse?
  
  ° Symptoms of drug abuse vary from drug to drug. In addition, the length of time of abuse of a drug has a direct correlation to possible symptoms.
  ° Methamphetamine abuse generally exhibits itself, in the beginning, as a form of paranoia, severe sleeplessness, pasty skin, and reclusive ness towards family and friends. Whereas prolonged use generally displays a general disregard for personal hygiene, weight loss, and fornication, or "crank bugs"-a feverent  scratching of the skin in a hallucinogenic state causing deep wounds.
  ° Cocaine abuse indicators generally begin with anxiety, depression, irritability, extreme fatigue, physical deterioration-usually manifesting itself in weight loss. Other indicators may include burned fingertips and lips (from utilizing a glass pipe in which to smoke crack cocaine), discolored front eyeteeth from the heat of the pipe, and pigmentation dispersal of the whites of the human eye. Cocaine creates an intense craving for more. Heavy users of cocaine may exhibit compulsive and repetitive patterns of behavior. Social consequences of heavy cocaine use may manifest itself as personal isolation and the pushing away of beloved family or friends.

The Staff at the
West Georgia Drug Task Force