Three cities join to form drug task force

PASCAGOULA, Miss. (AP) - The cities of Moss Point, Pascagoula and Gautier have drawn up an agreement to form their own drug task force.

The three police departments will target drug traffickers and providing interdiction enforcement inside the three municipalities.

The cities' agreement will become effective and operational with 30 days after approval by the attorney general's office.

Moss Point Police Chief Keith Davis says funds for the Southeast Mississippi Metropolitan Enforcement Team will come from by grants and pooling the cities' drug forfeitures.

The task force has applied for an Edward Byrne Justice Assistance Grant which would pay 75 percent of the salaries for agents on the enforcement team.

The three cities recently pulled their agents out of the Narcotics Task Force of Jackson County.