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TAHLEQUAH, OK - The Cherokee Nation recently received a grant to help eliminate drugs on Housing Authority properties.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development presented the grant in the amount of $725,660. The Housing Authority of the Cherokee Nation (HACN) will serve as the grant administrator. The Drug Elimination Grant (DEP) will allow the Cherokee Nation to provide physical improvements to housing authority properties, provide for additional employees to investigate drug related crimes, and establish a toll free phone number to call for narcotic information.

The grant will also enable the Cherokee Nation Marshal Service to hire two sergeants, an additional officer, and a K-9 officer or "drug dog." The officer and dog will provide additional drug enforcement in and around the HACN housing sites. Cherokee Nation Marshal Service Director David Roberts is hopeful that the new officers will be in place by the first of the year.

The K-9 team will serve as a visible presence in properties where the Marshal Service directs its patrol. This team will be valuable in detecting met amphetamine drug manufacturing operations in vehicles.

"Primarily, the grant brings a greater focus on our effort, it helps fund us, and is our vehicle to go into the housing communities and other Cherokee communities", Roberts said.

The physical improvements to HACN properties will be the installation of speed bumps, security fencing, vandal-proof lighting, and security gates for designated properties.

"These improvements are designed to reduce and prevent drug-related activity and crime and aid law enforcement within designated housing sites", said, Ron Qualls, Executive Director of HACN.