Shaker Heights to Administer $1.6 Million for Drug Trafficking Task Force

Shaker Heights City Council approved a measure to accept a $1.6 million grant on behalf* of the Ohio High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area program. 

The city is the fiduciary of the program for Cuyahoga County. Ohio HIDTA is funded by the Office of National Drug Control Policy and includes Cuyahoga, Lucas, Mahoning, Stark and Summit counties.

The Cuyahoga County task force includes one officer from Shaker Heights as well as agents from other cities, including Euclid, Cleveland Heights, Cleveland and East Cleveland.

They work to reduce drug distribution and money laundering organizations, reduce the impact of illicit drugs and the associated violent crimes in the Ohio HIDTA region and undermine the development of violent gangs that traffic in controlled substances.

*Editor's Note: Monday we reported that the Shaker Heights Police Department was the recipient of these funds. This is not the case: the city acts as fiscal agent for the funds, which are used by the task force.