Jim Rondenelli, WIBX
Jim Rondenelli, WIBX
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Senator Charles Schumer was in Utica today, calling for Oneida County to be designated a federal High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA)

Schumer was joined by local law enforcement officials at the Utica Police Department.

He says the designation would allow local police agencies access to more resources, including equipment and technology

Schumer says there has been a 60% rise in heroin related arrests in Utica since 2013, while local poison control center calls in the county involving heroin have doubled in four years.

Sheriff Rob Maciol says heroin is a huge problem in the county. He says one of every two arrests made the Sheriff's Office are for heroin, while 75% of inmates in the county jail have admitted to using heroin.

21 counties across New York state have been designated as High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas.

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