February 6, 2023 2:40 p.m.
During a ten-day period in late January, detectives with the Douglas Interagency Narcotics Team conducted multiple investigations and seized nearly 289 grams of fentanyl.
DINT Commander Rick McArthur said this included the seizure of:
*Approximately 53.8 grams of fentanyl January 19th
*Approximately 5 grams of fentanyl through two investigations and a separate seizure of approximately 40 grams of fentanyl January 20th
*Approximately 40 grams of fentanyl January 21st
*Approximately 57.9 grams of fentanyl January 25th
*Approximately 92 grams of fentanyl January 29th
*Approximately 288.8 grams or 10.8 ounces of fentanyl were seized during this time. McArthur said the investigations are ongoing and no specific details on them or the arrests made will be released at this time.
McArthur said the list does not include seizures of other drugs during this time period. He said methamphetamine and other drugs are still an ongoing problem and are still being addressed by DINT. McArthur said fentanyl is undeniably the drug of choice among opiate users in the area. Heroin use is in steep decline, mostly replaced by fentanyl.
The DINT release said fentanyl is a synthetic opioid and a Schedule II controlled substance. Fentanyl is used by medical professionals to treat pain and is most often prescribed or given post-surgery. The fentanyl which is being illegally manufactured and distributed throughout the community is not manufactured by a professional and often times has inconsistent purity levels, or is “cut” with other opioids or depressants. DINT has seen a substantial increase in fentanyl in the area as well as a significant increase in opioid overdoses. The Drug Enforcement Agency says “Two milligrams of fentanyl can be lethal depending on a person’s body size, tolerance and past usage”.
McArthur said DINT is a multi-jurisdictional narcotics task force that identifies, disrupts, and dismantles local, multi-state and international drug trafficking organizations using an intelligence-driven, multi-agency, prosecutor-supported approach.
DINT is comprised of members from the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, Roseburg Police Department, Oregon State Police, Bureau of Land Management and the Douglas County District’s Attorney’s Office.