DINT release – Throughout the end of January detectives assigned to the Douglas Interagency Narcotics Team (DINT) conducted multiple investigations over a ten-day period involving individuals distributing fentanyl throughout the community. On January 19, 2023, DINT investigated a case which resulted in the seizure of approximately 53.8 grams of fentanyl. On January 20, 2023, DINT conducted two investigations which resulted in the seizure of approximately 5 grams of fentanyl and a separate seizure of 40 grams of fentanyl. On January 21, 2023, DINT investigated a case which resulted in the seizure of approximately 40 grams of fentanyl. On January 25, 2023, DINT investigated a case which resulted in the seizure of approximately 57.9 grams of fentanyl. On January 29, 2023, DINT investigated a case which resulted in the seizure of approximately 92 grams of fentanyl. In total over the ten-day period DINT seized approximately 288.7 grams (10.18 ounces) of fentanyl. These investigations are ongoing and no specific details on the investigations or arrests will be released at this time. These are merely some recent examples of fentanyl cases by DINT, and the list does not include seizures of other drugs during this time period. Methamphetamine and other drugs are still an ongoing problem and are still being addressed by DINT. However, fentanyl is undeniably the drug of choice among opiate users in our area. Heroin use for example, is in steep decline, mostly replaced by fentanyl. 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 our 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 our community as well as a significant increase in opioid overdoses. Per the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) “Two milligrams of fentanyl can be lethal depending on a person’s body size, tolerance and past usage.” The DINT team 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 supported by the Oregon-Idaho High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) and is composed of members from the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, Roseburg Police Department, Oregon State Police, Bureau of Land Management, and the Douglas County District Attorney’s Office. The Oregon-Idaho HIDTA program is an Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) sponsored counterdrug grant program that coordinates with and provides funding resources to multi-agency drug enforcement initiatives, including DINT.
