BLUE MOUND - Squeals of delight vied with thunderous rap music Thursday afternoon outside Meridian Intermediate School in Blue Mound as fifth-grade students got an up-close view of the Macon County Sheriff's Office's newest vehicle.

The black 2000 Chevrolet Tahoe painted with flames is now driven by deputy David Reeves, the officer who teaches the Drug Abuse Resistance Education program in the Meridian, Argenta-Oreana, Warrensburg-Latham and Sangamon Valley school districts.

But in October, the Tahoe was owned by an alleged 29-year-old drug dealer who was caught with 2 kilos of cocaine in his possession. The vehicle was seized by authorities who believe it was purchased with the proceeds of drug trafficking.

Student reactions to the sports utility vehicle verged on awe.

"It's cool. It has bulletproof windows," said Phillip Turner of Boody.

The windows are tinted, but not bulletproof, according to Sheriff Jerry Dawson.

"I like the three-piece rims," said Andrew Platt of Blue Mound.

Boys were more excited than the girls, though everyone was bouncing up and down when Reeves cranked up the stereo system that includes two 15-inch woofers in the rear of the sports utility vehicle. The sound was shaking doors inside the school, staff members said.

"The tires and 26-inch rims on this vehicle cost $6,800," Reeves told the students. "We found the receipt for them inside when we seized it."

Two DVD players, one costing an estimated $1,500, are mounted inside the Tahoe, he said.

Dawson said he decided to use the Tahoe as his office's DARE vehicle to help attract attention to the program's anti-drug message. He said he has seen similar use of seized vehicles in other jurisdictions.

"We're looking for anything to bring out the awareness of drug abuse," Dawson said. "Kids can relate to this vehicle. They think it's neat."

Painted on the Tahoe is the notice: "Compliments of your local drug dealer."

Reeves said the Tahoe's previous owner was not a big-time drug dealer, but the seizure shows the students that "any assets you have that were purchased with drug money will be taken away from you when you're caught."

The sheriff's office had discontinued the DARE program as a budget cutting measure but has reinitiated the program this year. Reeves said Thursday was his first day instructing about 80 Meridian fifth-grade students with a new curriculum that is more focused on student involvement.

Intermediate school Principal Paul Carlton said he was glad the program returned.

"Kids hear drugs are bad, but that doesn't come up all the time," Carlton said. "The more they hear the message, the better chance it will stick."

Ron Ingram can be reached at ringram@;herald-review.com or 421-7973.