The North Central Narcotics Task Force recently made its 400th drug-related arrest, the force’s director said.

Task force director Rick Rokusek said the 20-month-old program recently received a $189,000 grant.

The force will use the grant to buy more cars and telecommunications equipment, Rokusek said.

Police from DeKalb, Kane, McHenry and Kendall counties participate in the program, Rokusek said. Members of the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Police, the NIU Police, the DeKalb City Police, the Sycamore Police and the Genoa Police serve on the task force, he said.

“These communities, their police chiefs and sheriffs and their local governing bodies should be commended for their participation and support of this program,” he said.

The task force opened 102 investigations and arrested 72 people in DeKalb County to date, Rokusek said.

Police seized 3,100 grams of cocaine, 461,000 grams of marijuana, more than 1,000 pounds, and 5,700 grams of other drugs, including mushrooms and LSD, in DeKalb County during the past 20 months, he said.

Cash and cars valued at $70,000 were impounded by the task force in DeKalb, Rokusek said.

Oswego was the first city in Kendall County to join the force, he said. The Kendall County Sheriff’s department is expected to join in the next few months, he said.

“We’re glad to have Kendall County because we have a lot of cases that criss-cross between Elgin, Aurora, DeKalb and Oswego,” Rokusek said.

Rokusek said the productivity of the force has surpassed original expectations, and the program is beginning to see a decrease in drug activity in northern Illinois.