Seattle Police to hold press conference on recent wave of fentanyl, meth, weapons arrests
Seattle detectives confiscate over 400,000 fentanyl pills, including handguns and hundreds of illicit drugs, in Bellevue. Courtesy photo: Seattle Police Department
SEATTLE – Seattle Police are holding a press conference Wednesday on a series of arrests involving fentanyl, methamphetamine and firearms.
West Washington has seen a worrying surge in drug crime in recent years. In September, King County confirmed 217 fentanyl overdoses in 2021, up from a then record of 172 in 2020. The surge in overdoses reflected others across the country and prompted the Drug Enforcement Administration to issue a public safety warning.
CONNECTED: DEA issues safety warning about “alarming surge” in pills containing fentanyl and meth in the US
The U.S. Attorney’s Office in West Washington also announced a 275% increase in fentanyl arrests between 2020 and 2021 in late September. These included 16 arrests at a multi-state drug distribution ring where agents seized more than 100,000 fentanyl pills, more than 150 pounds of methamphetamine and nearly two dozen weapons. Arrests were made in New York, California and Washington cities like Kent, Bremerton, Belfair, Spanaway, Tacoma and Port Orchard.
CONTINUE READING: King County councilor plans to form a fentanyl task force amid spike in deaths and overdoses
In light of similar drug arrests in Seattle, the SPD is holding a press conference with the DEA and Homeland Security Investigations. Officials say they will speak about the recent arrests and arrest warrants.
CONNECTED: King County has a record number of fentanyl deaths this year
CONTINUE READING: 16 arrested in multi-state drug ring; Officials confiscate weapons, drugs and 100,000 fentanyl tablets
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