WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA –United States Attorney Bill Powell is applauding law enforcement efforts in 2018, as more than 275 kilos of illicit and dangerous drugs were taken off the streets in communities across the Northern District of West Virginia.
More than 3 kilos of fentanyl alone was seized, enough to kill 83% of the entire state of West Virginia’s population.
“The combination of federal, state and local law enforcement and dedicated prosecutors from this office has resulted in extraordinary successes. Our efforts to cripple drug supply chains and prosecute every significant link we can find have been very effective. Our drug seizures have also resulted in removing many firearms from the drug dealing community. Our efforts will only intensify as additional resources are dedicated to this fight,” said Powell.
Everything from cocaine to heroin to methamphetamine were seized in large quantities. The numbers below are approximate, and received from Appalachia HIDTA, Washington-Baltimore HIDTA, and the Drug Enforcement Administration.
§ Cocaine: 15.3 kilos
§ Fentanyl: 3.1 kilos
§ Heroin: 10.7 kilos
§ Marijuana (including plants): 161.8 kilos
§ Methamphetamine: 84.6 kilos
§ Oxycodone: 1600 pills
§ Other pharmaceuticals: 49,500 pills
The seizures were a collaborative effort between HIDTA-funded drug and violent crime task forces, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and local law enforcement.
To learn more about HIDTA and the task forces, go to https://www.justice.gov/