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Bowling Green (AP) A bill before the General Assembly would require drug dealers to purchase tax stamps and require buyers to pay taxes on the illegal drugs they purchase or face tax evasion charges.

The measure would require drug dealers to buy a tax identification number from the Kentucky Department of Revenue. The department is barred by law from sharing the information with law enforcement.

The state would be able to seize property during drug arrests of the person had not paid taxes under the measure.

The bill would allow the law enforcement agency making the arrest to receive 70 percent of the money with local prosecutors getting 7.5 percent and the rest would go toward the administrative costs of the program.

At least one drug task force is behind the measure, hoping it can raise money to support law enforcement.

State Representative Stephen Nunn of Glasgow says Tennessee has a similar measure and has "pretty good success" with it.