News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 29, 2005

Meth Strike Force Begins Campaign to
Stop Meth Associated Crimes

SEPT 29 -- Today, the Drug Enforcement Administration’s San Diego Field Division (DEA) joined with the San Diego County Methamphetamine Strike Force in announcing the initiation of “Stop Meth Associated Crimes (SMAC)”. San Diego County Supervisors Dianne Jacob and Greg Cox, as well as the Narcotics Division of the District Attorney’s Office, the San Diego-based Identity Theft Resource Center, and the San Diego County Hotel-Motel Association support this initiative.

The growing connection between methamphetamine and identity theft poses a clear danger to both the public and business community. In the last three years, cases involving both methamphetamine and identity theft have jumped 35% in San Diego County, according to the District Attorney’s Office. Local law enforcement believes that at least 75% of suspects in local ID theft cases showed evidence of methamphetamine abuse.

To address the issue, the Meth Strike Force intends to increase public awareness of the dynamic between methamphetamine abuse and identity theft, promote new policy and management tools for businesses with a high volume of customer credit card paperwork, and increase standardized reporting of cases involving both methamphetamine and identity theft.

Any individual with information regarding methamphetamine trafficking, or meth-related crimes such as identity theft, can call the toll-free, confidential hotline at 1-877-No2-METH (1-877-662-6384).

POINT OF CONTACT
Misha Piastro, Special Agent
Public Information Officer
San Diego Field Division
Drug Enforcement Administration
(858)616-4166