The city of Austin continues to see a large influx of narcotics from south of the U.S. border and a re-emergence of meth labs in the area, local police say.

This according to the recently released Austin Police Department 2009 Report, which details narcotics numbers, as well as statistics on other area crime trends.

Though the total number of narcotics-related search warrants and arrests were down from 2008, the APD reported that drug crime enforcement continues to be at a “very high level,” spurred in large part by a number of notable busts.

Among the largest of these was an August case that involved the APD and several assisting agencies. That case resulted in the arrest of an Austin resident, the seizure of three pounds of methamphetamine and eventual federal charges. The roughly $130,000 seizure was one of the largest meth seizure cases in the state last year, the report states.

Overall, Austin police, in conjunction with the Southeast Minnesota Narcotics and Gang Task Force, issued 39 narcotics-related search warrants and made 68 narcotics-related arrests in 2009. These numbers were comparable to 2007 figures, but down from the 2008 high-water marks of 51 searches and 91 arrests.

“As we head into 2010 the goal is to keep our aggressive focus on combating narcotics use and trafficking in Austin,” Det. David McKichan, Austin police’s lead drug investigator, wrote in the report. “Based on some of the feedback we are getting at the end of 2009 and our numbers compared to 2008, it does appear those efforts are making a difference and that drugs are getting much harder to find in our city.”

However, the total number of narcotics cases reported to police in 2009 — 258 — was the highest mark since at least 2006, and other crimes also generally increased in the past year, according to the report.

This included aggravated assault, burglary, larceny and auto theft — all considered more serious “part I” offenses and all up from 2008.

Disorderly conduct and DWI, both lesser “part II” offenses, also hit high-water marks since at least 2006, according to the report.

Accordingly, arrest numbers were up from 2008, as Austin police nabbed 1,118 adult suspects last year.