Police Chief Stillman Credited with Helping Close Methamphetamine Loophole

Boston- Representative Louis L. Kafka (D-Stoughton) and Senator James E. Timilty (D-Walpole) announced that their bill to close a glaring loophole in the drug trafficking laws of the Commonwealth was signed into law by Governor Patrick.

Originally alerted to the problem by Walpole Chief of Police Richard Stillman, Kafka and Timilty have been working to close a loophole in the laws and establish penalties for the crime of trafficking in methamphetamines, an oversight during the previous round of updates to the Commonwealth’s drug laws. Joined in their efforts this session by Attorney General Martha Coakley, the language was included as Outside Section 102 of the Fiscal Year 2013 Budget.

“I’m glad that we got this loophole closed,” said Kafka. “Up until now, law enforcement was unable to bring sufficient charges against people who were bringing large quantities of meth into the Commonwealth. Having the Attorney General highlight this as a priority has been extremely helpful in getting this done.”

“Correcting this oversight was a no-brainer, and I’m grateful to the Chief for bringing it to our attention,” said Senator Timilty. “Meth use has become a real problem in this country and law enforcement needs to have the proper tools to combat it.”

The language provides that methamphetamines, a Class B substance, will now be included in the list of drugs eligible for prosecution under the Commonwealth’s trafficking laws.