Drug Task Force Seizes $1.1 Million

The Western Slope could be seeing an added bump in law enforcement funding thanks to drug lords.

Last year, the Western Slope Drug Task Force seized $1.1 million in their criminal investigations. Not all of that money will come back to Colorado, most will likely go to the federal government.

But, what the area does see could pay off in the form of education, safety, and security locally.

"We seize money to adversely impact drug trafficking organizations," Mesa County Sheriff Stan Hilkey said. "And, sometimes we can take that seized drug money and put that money to good use in our law enforcement community and our community in general."

Hilkey says all of the extra dollars will go towards law enforcement costs. An example of that are the mock DUI drills that local schools will put on in the spring time. Last year, Central High School in Grand Junction put on the display that included multiple agencies and even the St. Mary's Hopsital helicopter landing on scene.

Hilkey says it is a nice little kick back, but not something they would ever depend on. In years past, cash seizure has varied from hundreds of thousands of dollars to close to $2 million.