Cocaine on the Rise

Tools

By Nick Lough

BILLINGS - Authorities believe cocaine is overtaking methamphetamine as the drug of choice in Billings.

The list of recent high profile cocaine cases U.S. Attorney Bill Mercer has prosecuted grew even larger this week as several former Billings Outlaws players and coaches were charged with distributing it around the community. Mercer says over the past few years he's witnessed firsthand a dramatic change in the Billings drug trade landscape.

"Cocaine is clearly up in terms of supply and demand," said Mercer. "As meth has gone dramatically down, cocaine has gone up."

Mercer believes the Montana Meth Project has greatly benefited the state and the war on drugs, however its not stopping all drug use, and he says some statistics are showing a disturbing trend. "Cocaine is clearly the drug of choice," said Mercer.

He hopes this weeks arrests along with the other successful high-profile prosecutions send the message that cocaine will not be tolerated in the community and he points to the stiff penalties associated with the drug charges that now have several former athletes looking at anywhere from 5-to-40 years in prison.

Former Denver Bronco running back Travis Henry is currently serving a 3-year sentence for his role in a cocaine ring. Former Carbon County Attorney Bob Eddleman is serving 30 months for hosting cocaine parties at houses in Red Lodge and Billings.

Sunday, Nov 8 at 11:23 AM jkgoat wrote ...

futile. too much money involved, the war on drugs employs too many people, and those people are making money playing both sides "deal and bust".

Friday, Nov 6 at 4:17 PM YUPPIE KILLER wrote ...

Its kept Washinton DC runnin for years and nobody stoping it.Let Billings give it a try, the local goverment cant get any worse.

Friday, Nov 6 at 7:03 AM jcuz wrote ...

what do you all care so much about if people are shuffin this up their noses???? the quicker and more they do it, the more they gonna be dyin off

Thursday, Nov 5 at 10:17 PM Pragmatic wrote ...

I think the Isralies have it right: take a pragmatic approach to the problem and eliminate it. People such a a public servent in a position of authority such as Bob Eddleman should be shot

Thursday, Nov 5 at 9:53 PM jfs wrote ...

Tall tree: Short rope

Thursday, Nov 5 at 9:19 PM griz wrote ...

the only way to stop this is stricter punishment for the seller and the distributor.i cant believe how our small town is being over run by criminals.its bad enough that these young punks who think that being in a gang is the answer .i feel that the authorities need to step up and start to put theses worthless criminals in prison

Add a comment

Name:

Comment: 1000 Characters Left

KULR-8 News, Sports, Weather and its affiliated companies are not responsible for the content of comments posted or for anything arising out of use of the above comments or other interaction among the users. We reserve the right to screen, refuse to post, remove or edit user-generated content at any time and for any or no reason in our absolute and sole discretion without prior notice, although we have no duty to do so or to monitor any Public Forum.

Your Weather Authority

Icon
Current Temp 31.0 °F
Fair
Wind : Southwest at
3.5 mph
Humidity : 79 %
Pressure : 30.36 in
More Weather

State Farm Sky Cam

More Weather

AP Video

On Demand

Stock Quotes

This content requires the latest Adobe Flash Player and a browser with JavaScript enabled. Click here for a free download of the latest Adobe Flash Player.

Cast Your Vote

School District 2 trustees plan to travel to California and New York to continue the interview process in the superintendent search. Do you agree or disagree with this use of funds?

  • Agree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion

Links We Like