Fentanyl seizures last year in NKY brought in an estimated street value of $228,000 worth of the deadly drug, according to the Northern Kentucky Drug Strike Force.
The number highlights that fentanyl continues to plague our region, said Scott Hardcorn, director of the drug strike force.
Hardcorn presented data at Tuesday’s Kenton County Fiscal Court meeting that he said shows fentanyl continues to play an outsized role in the underground drug market. Methamphetamine comes in second, with seizures equaling an estimated street value of $85,000.
Hardcorn also brought attention to an uneasy rise in counterfeit pills in the area. Counterfeit pills are manufactured to resemble common prescription drugs like Oxycontin, Percocet, Vicodin and Xanax but instead contain illicit substances, usually fentanyl, according to Hardcorn’s report. The task force seized 5,552 counterfeit pills last year.
They also seized 58 firearms, 50 of which belonged to marijuana traffickers.
For more information on the Northern Kentucky Drug Strike Force, visit their website.
Kentucky residents seeking treatment for addiction can call the Help KY Call Center at 1-833-8KY-HELP (1-833-859-4357) to get connected to both public and private treatment providers. Calls are accepted Monday-Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Saturday-Sunday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
