September 20, 2006

East Lansing - Officers from the Michigan State Police (MSP) Motor Carrier Division were recently recognized for the second consecutive year with an award from the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (USDOT/FMCSA) for their drug interdiction efforts involving commercial motor vehicles.

The MSP Motor Carrier Division was recognized for the large number of significant cash seizures officers have made, as well as for the contraband detection equipment that was purchased recently for use by motor carrier officers. Additionally, the MSP Motor Carrier Division has provided commercial vehicle drug interdiction training to over 500 officers from 70 different agencies in Michigan and Canada.

"We are very pleased our efforts at interdiction are having an impact on the criminal activity that occurs on our state highways," said Capt. Robert R. Powers, Jr., commander of the MSP Motor Carrier Division. "Money from illegal drug trafficking can be used to fund terrorist activities, making interdiction an important component of our homeland security initiatives."