Jeff Bingaman United States Senator from New Mexico

U.S. SENATOR Jeff Bingaman

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Contact Senator Bingaman's Office:

Jude McCartin
Maria Najera
703 Hart Building
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510
(202) 224-5521

Bingaman & Udall: Albuquerque Receives Nearly $900,000 to Combat Flow of Illegal Drugs

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Jeff Bingaman and Tom Udall today announced that the Albuquerque District Attorney's Office will receive a $893,750 economic recovery grant to fight violent drug crimes in New Mexico.

Through a Bingaman initiative – supported by Udall -- the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act contained $30 million in grant funding nationwide aimed at fighting drug-related criminal activity.  The funding awarded to Albuquerque came from that border grant program.  It will be used to hire new prosecutors, to assess the prevalence of drug-related violence and to generally increase the efficiency of prosecutions of drug-related violent crimes.

"Violent drug crime in Mexico seems to be getting worse, and it's important for New Mexico to do what it can to fight criminal networks on our side of the border.  This funding recognizes that law enforcement in states like ours need additional help," Bingaman said. "I'm very glad that the Albuquerque District Attorney's office is able to tap into this federal grant to prosecute drug-related crime."

"New Mexico is on the front lines of the increasingly violent drug war just over our border in Mexico. This funding will give the Albuquerque District Attorney's Office the resources it needs to protect New Mexico residents, ensure the security of our state, and provide valuable jobs for the region," Udall said.