Lawmakers approve ‘crucial’ $4 million for Arkansas Drug Task Force

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – This week at the state capitol, lawmakers signed off on what's said to be crucial funds for the Arkansas Drug Task Force.

In Thursday's peer subcommittee meeting, legislators approved $4 million in funds for the task force. They say this is just the first step of their latest efforts to ramp up their resources.

Michael Evans, the coordinator and commander of the Fifth Drug Task Force agency, said funding is crucial for a few reasons.

Evans said his agency in northwest Arkansas receives $170,000 a year to cover four employees' salaries, all of whom have long backgrounds working in law enforcement. He also noted that money can get drugs off the streets and the sellers behind bars as the agency purchases large amounts of drugs in order to track down the sellers.

According to officials, major fentanyl and methamphetamine deals can cost up to a few thousand dollars, which Evans said the agency often doesn't have. This results in them not being able to make the purchase because they can't let $3,000 to $5,000 go.

"It's frustrating because we don't want the publicity for it, we just want to be funded to where we can go to work," Evans said.

The funding from the legislature lifts a "huge burden" off the agency's shoulders, Evans explained, calling it a step in the right direction.

"Oh, it's huge," he said. "We have to try and rely on the agencies in our districts to fill in the gaps with funding or manpower. but they're having the same issues. My task force hasn't received a raise in 12 years so I can't compete with surrounding agencies, and you're trying to find qualified candidates."

Evans emphasized that the drug problem in Arkansas is only heating up every year. In 2019, the task force seized more than $59,740,000 worth of narcotics in the state. Compare that to just four years later, in 2023, when officials said the DTF seized $224,828,000 worth of narcotics.

Sen. Ben Gilmore (R-Crossett), who sponsored the latest prison reform legislation now known as the Protect Act, said the task force's efforts play a significant role in lowering crime rates in the state.

"What we know is a certainty of arrest is a huge deterrent and we want to make sure they're there to do their job to keep our streets safe and our people safe," he said.

This $4 million is expected to help the agency get through the next fiscal year until lawmakers come back for session next year. Gilmore said lawmakers are considering putting Drug Task Force funding under the state, or the prosecutor's office to ensure long-term, sustainable funding.

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