Category: National News

Rainbow fentanyl concealed in LEGO box in NYC

Authorities find 15,000 rainbow fentanyl pills in Lego box, largest seizure of the drug in NYC history, DEA says

Federal authorities have accused a New Jersey woman of concealing approximately 15,000 rainbow-colored fentanyl pills in a Lego box as part of a drug trafficking scheme, in what US Drug Enforcement Administration authorities said in a news release is the largest seizure of the drug in New York City history.

Latesha Bush, 48, pleaded not guilty last week at an arraignment in Manhattan Criminal Court, a spokesperson for the prosecutor said. She was charged with one count of first-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and one count of third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, according to a criminal complaint.

Read the full article on CNN.com.

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36 Million Lethal Doses of Fentanyl Removed from Communities between May and September

DEA Announces Results of Enforcement Surge to Reduce the Fentanyl Supply Across the United States
9/27/22 DEA Press Release

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration today announced the results of an enforcement operation that spanned from May to September and resulted in significant fentanyl seizures across the United States.  

As part of the One Pill Can Kill initiative, the DEA and its law enforcement partners seized more than 10.2 million fentanyl pills and approximately 980 pounds of fentanyl powder during the period of May 23 through Sept. 8, 2022. The amount of fentanyl taken off the streets during this surge is equivalent to more than 36 million lethal doses removed from the illegal drug supply. Additionally, 338 weapons were seized, including rifles, shotguns, pistols, and hand grenades.

Read the full article on the DEA web site.

Sen. Chuck Schumer wants $290M to help fight deadly ‘rainbow fentanyl’

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said Sunday he wants almost $300 million in federal funding to fight “rainbow fentanyl” — highly-addictive pills that look like candy and could have a devastating effect on young people.

The $290 million in funds would be used to sustain 61 Overdose Response Strategy teams that would help try to curb fentanyl, including the new “rainbow” kind, the New York Democrat said at a press conference.

“This is fentanyl, this is a Sweetart — you tell me the difference,” Schumer said while holding up pictures of both the deadly pills and the tangy sweets. “Halloween is coming up… this is really worrisome and really dangerous.”

Read the full article on the NY Post web site.

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Anti-fentanyl groups with local ties rally in Washington

Sep. 21—WASHINGTON, D.C. — Patricia Drewes joined anti-fentanyl advocates from across the country Saturday to demand greater effort from the federal government in addressing the ongoing fentanyl crisis.

Drewes co-founded Forgotten Victims of Vance, Granville, Franklin and Warren Counties, which last month held a similar rally in Raleigh.

Read the full article on the Henderson Dispatch web site (subscription required) or on Yahoo News.

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House GOP shines light on fentanyl
crisis

From the Sept 15 edition of the Washington Times

House GOP shines light on fentanyl crisis, blames open border for mounting overdose deaths

House Republicans are shining a spotlight on the fentanyl crisis, which
they said has been exacerbated by President Biden’s loose border
policies.

At a Capitol conference, the conservative Republican Study Committee
turned over the stage to parents whose children died
of fentanyl overdoses and had come to Washington to share their stories
and help lawmakers craft legislation to combat the epidemic.

Read the full article on the Washington Times web site.

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