We always knew they were good at their job, but now the Tennessee Narcotics Officers’ Association (TNOA) has confirmed it: The 10th Judicial District Drug Task Force has been named the Top Narcotics Interdiction Team in Tennessee.

The 10th  District team consists of 12 agents covering Bradley, McMinn, Monroe and Polk counties. In 2006, they bagged approximately $4.5 million in drugs, vehicles and cash, including 100 lbs. of cocaine with a street value of something like $2 million.

District Drug Task Force Director Mike Hall said the bulk of their seizures took place along a 52-mile stretch of I-75 which serves as a common north-south corridor for drug trafficking. But they also work the interior of the four-county 10th District. In addition to cash and property confiscated by the team this past year, Hall said they have seized cocaine, crack, Ecstasy, pot and the deadly and highly addictive crystal meth.

“We’ve sort of been in competition with the West Tennessee drug team, who usually leads the state in seizures ~ kind of like the big Cleveland-Bradley rivalry,” Hall laughed. “It’s a friendly competition, but we are glad to receive the top honor this year.”

In addition, the TNOA named Agent Matt Bales as the Top Narcotics Officer in East Tennessee. Bales has only been with the10th Judicial team for a little over three years, but he has already been credited with a number of important drug arrests, including the well-publicized bust this past summer of an 18-wheeler carrying 31 kilograms of cocaine. Hall described that bust as “the second largest” coke bust in Tennessee.

“It was actually the largest drug bust,” Hall explained, smiling. “But then, West Tennessee nabbed 33 kilograms up near Memphis shortly after. So they beat us out by two kilograms. But then we beat them in cash seizures by confiscating $1.5 million in drug money.”

Hall added that the bottom line was, it didn’t matter who actually got the credit, as long as the drugs and the dealers are taken off the board.

“West Tennessee does a terrific job,” he said. “My guys do a terrific job. In the end, that’s all that matters ~ cleaning up our community and keeping drugs away from the kids.”