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AG Announces 11,000% Increase of Fentanyl in Montana Since 2019
A few days ago, Montana's Attorney General Austin Knudsen announced that fentanyl seizures by anti-drug task forces in Montana have increased by nearly 11,000% since 2019. Plus, the numbers between 2021 to 2022 have tripled, blowing through any previous records.
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In 2022 alone, Rocky Mountain High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area task forces took control of 206,955 dosages of fentanyl in Montana, which came to a nearly 10,800% increase since 2019 when they took control of just 1,900 dosages. That was roughly triple 2021, which was 60,577 dosages.
AG Knudsen is proud of these task forces working diligently to keep fentanyl off our streets:
The amount of illicit fentanyl coming across the southern border has skyrocketed. This poison is killing Montanans. Our narcotics agents and troopers are getting more fentanyl off the roads than ever before, but we need additional tools and resources to keep it out of our communities.
Disclaimer: The quantities above are from the six RMHIDTA Montana task forces, and do not include drugs seized by all law enforcement in Montana. AG Knudsen oversees the MT DOJ's narcotics bureau and MHP criminal interdiction teams, which participate in the task forces.
As for gun seizures in Montana, the task forces found that the number had increased by 25% in 2022 compared to 2021. In 2022, 474 guns were seized... whereas in 20221, 375 were seized.
The task force took in other drugs in 2022, such as 207.37 pounds of methamphetamine... 7.29 pounds of heroin... and 22.25 pounds of cocaine.
Combating the drug problem in Montana has been a big task to undertake for AG Knudsen, and he is working toward an increase in investment for public safety during the 2023 Legislature.
What are your thoughts on the drug problems in Montana? Let us know on Facebook or the App Chat.
(Source: dojmt.gov)
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