News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact: Jon Collins, 612-919-5618
November 8, 2016 (MINNEAPOLIS) – On
Thursday, November 3, the Bloomington Police Department, in partnership with
the Hennepin County Violent Offender Task Force conducted a search warrant that
resulted in the seizure of nearly three quarters of a gallon of fentanyl, along
with marijuana, illegal prescription pills and several firearms.
The 2,754
milliliters of fentanyl has an estimated street value of $275,000 and is the
largest amount confiscated in Minnesota State history.
“This is
what we accomplish with multi-agency partnerships,” said Hennepin County
Sheriff Rich Stanek. “Working together, our agencies can achieve success in
preventing overdose deaths from opioids like fentanyl and heroin. If you want
to deal this poison in Hennepin County, we have a place for you in the jail.”
Fentanyl is
a schedule II substance under the Controlled Substances Act, and according to
the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, is a potent synthetic opioid and can
serve as a direct substitute for heroin in opioid dependent individuals.
However, fentanyl is very dangerous because it is much more potent than heroin
and results in frequent overdoses that can lead to respiratory depression and
death.
Fentanyl overdose deaths in Hennepin
County Jan-Sept
2016: 18 2015 (Full
year): 9 2014 (Full
year): 5
Heroin overdose deaths in Hennepin
County Jan-Sept
2016: 49 Jan-Sept
2015: 30 2015 (Full
year): 48
Opioid overdose deaths in Hennepin
County Jan-Sept
2016: 51 Jan-Sept
2015: 41 2015 (Full
year): 61
“In light of recent opiate overdoses including those in Bloomington, this case reiterates the importance of a strong, coordinated enforcement approach to identifying those who choose to traffic in this very dangerous and addictive narcotic,” said Bloomington Police Chief Jeff Potts.
Last month, Hennepin,
along with Anoka, Dakota, Ramsey and Washington counties were designated as High
Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas by the White House – Office of National Drug
Control Policy. The new designation will provide the five counties with federal
resources to assist with the coordination and development of drug control
efforts among Federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement officials.
The on-going
investigation is led by the HC-VOTF. VOTF is a task force that includes personnel
from the Sheriff’s Office and the following police departments: Brooklyn Park,
Brooklyn Center, Golden Valley, and Richfield. The Bloomington Police Department
is also assisting with this investigation.
– HCSO –
Actual photo of confiscated fentanyl, provided by Hennepin County Sheriff's Office
Actual photo of confiscated fentanyl, provided by Hennepin County Sheriff's Office
Look for more news on
the Hennepin County Sheriff's website at http://www.hennepinsheriff.org.
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