Northern Kentucky Drug Strike Force Awarded $137,000 Federal Grant to Combat Trafficking
COVINGTON, Ky. — The Northern Kentucky Drug Strike Force will receive more than $137,000 in federal funding as part of a statewide push to fight drug trafficking and improve addiction recovery programs, Gov. Andy Beshear announced this week.
The funding comes from the Edward J. Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) program, which awarded more than $1.4 million to nine Kentucky agencies for drug prevention, enforcement, and victim services.
Governor’s Commitment to Addiction Fight
“Fighting addiction is a team effort that requires work from every single one of us,” Beshear said in announcing the grant. “Only together can we provide support for our loved ones struggling with addiction and make sure no one has to walk the path to recovery alone.”
The Beshear administration highlighted progress in recent years, noting that Kentucky has recorded three consecutive years of declining overdose deaths, including a 30.2% drop from 2023 to 2024.
How the Funding Will Be Used
The JAG program supports Kentucky’s law enforcement agencies, drug task forces, and nonprofit organizations. Funds will be used to:
- Purchase critical equipment and resources
- Provide drug prevention programming for residents
- Offer counseling services for crime victims
- Ensure officers receive specialized training
- Support reentry programs for individuals leaving incarceration
The Northern Kentucky Drug Strike Force serves communities across Campbell, Kenton, and Boone counties, working in partnership with local police departments, the Cincinnati DEA, and the Kentucky State Police.
Other Kentucky Agencies Benefit
Additional grants went to drug task forces across the state, including:
- Bowling Green–Warren County Drug Task Force — $141,574, which has already seized large quantities of cocaine, methamphetamine, fentanyl, and marijuana this year.
- Barren River Drug Task Force — $114,545 to support prevention in Barren and Metcalfe counties.
- South-Central Kentucky Drug Task Force — $114,789 to fund operations in Simpson and Allen counties.
Leaders from each agency emphasized that Byrne JAG funding is essential to their ability to fight trafficking, prevent overdoses, and protect communities.
Broader Recovery Initiatives
The grant is part of a broader strategy by the Beshear administration, which has:
- Certified 31 counties as Recovery Ready Communities
- Banned bromazolam (“Designer Xanax”) statewide
- Expanded the Treatment Access Program for uninsured residents
- Created FindRecoveryHousingNowKY.org and SecondChance.ky.gov to connect people with housing, jobs, and treatment
Residents struggling with addiction are encouraged to call the KY HELP Call Center at 833-859-4357 or visit FindHelpNowKy.org for treatment programs.
The new funding signals Kentucky’s ongoing investment in addressing both drug enforcement and recovery, ensuring law enforcement and communities are equipped to tackle the state’s addiction crisis.
Stay with ChicagoMusicGuide.com for more updates on Kentucky’s fight against drug trafficking and addiction.