PIERRE (AP) - The U.S. Department of Justice is giving South Dakota $1 million to help law enforcement agencies combat methamphetamine trafficking.
Officials say the grant will fund more investigators, agents and forensic analysts in a number of agencies, including the state Division of Criminal Investigation and the departments the make up the Sioux Falls Area Drug Task Force, Rapid City Drug Task Force and the Northern Plains Safe Trails Task Force.
U.S. Attorney Ronald Parsons says meth dealers and users are connected in one way or another to a large percentage of crimes committed in South Dakota, including violent assaults and child neglect.
The federal grant is part of $7.2 million given to law enforcement agencies across the Midwest.
