BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) - Sen. John Hoeven is asking the Drug Enforcement Administration to bring more agents to North Dakota to help combat increased drug trafficking in the oil patch.
Hoeven sent a letter Tuesday to Michele Leonhart, the administrator at the DEA.
Hoeven says more agents are needed to investigate drug crimes and prevent drugs from entering the state.
North Dakota's Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem released the 2013 crime report Tuesday. The report shows drug offenses increased by 19.5 percent statewide last year.
Stenehjem says drug cases are becoming more complex and traffickers are almost always heavily armed.