News Release


For further information please contact:


Major Ron Replogle

(573) 751-3313


Director Dave Barton

Midwest HIDTA (816) 746-4911


DDCC113006

November 30, 2006


EMPHASIS: President Bush Honors Midwest HIDTA



Colonel James F. Keathley, superintendent of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, is pleased to announce that Midwest HIDTA, Missouri State Highway Patrol, Kansas Bureau of Investigations, and the Kansas City, MO, Police Department are the recipients of a special proclamation from President George W. Bush for their decade long fight against methamphetamine. Whitehouse Drug Policy Office Special Assistant Deputy Director Doug Simon presented the proclamation and certificates to these agencies at a meeting in Kansas City, MO, today.


The role of the Midwest HIDTA is to enhance and facilitate the coordination of regional drug control efforts among local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies in order to eliminate or reduce drug trafficking in critical markets in the region. This includes coordination efforts to reduce the production, manufacturing, distribution, transportation, and the attendant money laundering of drug proceeds.


The Missouri State Highway Patrol has been the primary partner of Midwest HIDTA in the state of Missouri since its formation in December 1996. Our officers, along with the other agencies, who have investigated, worked, and fought tirelessly to combat the methamphetamine problem within the Midwest HIDTA area and the state of Missouri should be commended for their efforts.


The Missouri State Highway Patrol has shown leadership on a national level in the fight against methamphetamine, and was instrumental in the passing of legislation controlling the sale of pseudoephedrine. This law became effective in July 2005, and dictated that over-the-counter packages containing ephedrine or pseudoephedrine be sold from behind the pharmacy counter. Pharmacists are restricted from selling these drugs to anyone less than 18 years old, and must keep a written or electronic log of the purchaser’s name, address, amount purchased, and purchase date. The log is open for inspection by law enforcement officers. Since this legislation took effect, there’s been an average decline in methamphetamine incidents of 42 percent.