The Owensboro Police Department has seized nearly 97,000 fentanyl pills so far this year, according to data presented Tuesday morning.
Lt. Col. J.D. Winkler previously said OPD had seized 16,000 pills between January 1 and June 30. Per his update Tuesday, that means more than 80,000 pills have been discovered and seized over the last 3 months.
“The supply wouldn’t be coming in if the demand wasn’t here and that’s the reality,” Winkler said. “Our folks are doing a good job identifying these dealers, but the dealers are still taking the risk knowing that we are coming after them.”
In addition to pills, Winkler said OPD has seized approximately 2.5 pounds of cocaine, 32 pounds of methamphetamine, and 2 ounces of heroin.
Winkler said they focus on the “higher-level dealers” that travel to Owensboro to sell.
“We will identify their sources coming here to our community … All of the dope that we’ve seized was coming to Owensboro. We will stop [them from entering the city], especially fentanyl. We’re not gonna let it hit the streets,” Winkler said.
Daviess County Sheriff’s Office Capt. Jeff Payne similarly said that the reports for the year dramatically increased as they continue to find traffickers and addicts on all levels.
“A lot of that is because of the drugs being transported around. We continue to go after any of the traffickers, regardless of what level, as well as those that are addicts,” Payne said.
From the start of the year to September 30, Payne reported the following:
- 72 marijuana cases resulting in 112 arrests — 10 juveniles involved
- 4 cocaine cases resulting in 3 arrests
- 90 methamphetamine cases resulting in 159 arrests — 3 juveniles involved
- 1 heroine case resulting in 2 arrests
- 12 fentanyl cases resulting in 14 arrests
- 1 opiate case resulting in 4 arrests
