Gwinnett to add assistant DA for drug task force

The Gwinnett County Commission Tuesday approved a measure to add an assistant district attorney to serve on a metro-area drug enforcement task force fighting the illegal narcotics trade.

District Attorney Danny Porter said the appointment, fully funded with forfeited assets siezed by federal law enforcement agencies, is the second step in a three-pronged offensive initiated last year against the drug trade. Last year, he said, Commission Chairman Charles Bannister led a drive to approve an attorney’s position to serve on the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area task force, which coordinates federal, state and local efforts to enforce drug laws.

So far, the drug task force efforts have resulted in more than $47 million in confiscated drug assets and hundreds of arrests, Porter said.

The third part of the offensive, Porter said, will be more position appointments through his office, which are tentatively set in the 2009 budget.

— Patrick Fox