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Officials say county sees professional meth trafficking; task force being considered
Summary
Public commenter and local prosecutors described recent large meth seizures and an increase in higher‑grade methamphetamine sourced outside the county; the sheriff and district attorney discussed forming or expanding multi‑agency task forces to target meth and related violent crime.
A public commenter and county prosecutors told the Tompkins County Public Safety Committee on March 25 that recent local arrests and seizures indicate incoming, professionally produced crystal methamphetamine is present in the area, and committee members and law‑enforcement leaders discussed launching or expanding a coordinated task force to focus on meth trafficking.
In public comment, Zach Wynne described a recent seizure: “The Ithaca Police Department seized a large amount of methamphetamine at the Green Street parking garage adjacent to the Asteri Building the day before yesterday.” He linked local street crime and a prior high‑profile kidnapping and murder to meth use and distribution.
District Attorney Matt (District Attorney) told the committee that local enforcement has shifted in recent years away from small, locally produced meth labs to “higher quality, more professionally produced, like crystal methamphetamine that's being brought in from outside of Tompkins County.” He said a recent arrest involving three ounces of crystal methamphetamine would be charged as a class‑A felony and that large narcotics seizures are commonly accompanied by firearms.
Sheriff representatives said the county has run multi‑agency efforts previously and currently supports the GIVE task force (a regional enforcement group focusing on violent crime and weapons); they reported talks last week to create a new task force specifically focused on major illicit‑drug activity that would combine resources from multiple agencies. The sheriff cautioned that staffing a new task force requires allocating officers and investigators and that the effort is “just starting” and too early to provide a launch date.
Committee members asked whether narcotics trends are replacing opioid use; the DA answered that user demand determines substance use patterns and that task forces primarily affect supply. Members also noted that any new enforcement focus must be balanced against other priorities — for example, recruitment and retention of officers and prosecutors — and that evidence collection resources are essential to sustain prosecutions.
The committee did not vote to create a task force at the March 25 meeting, but law enforcement staff said they are pursuing multi‑agency coordination and that the idea remains under active discussion.
