Partnership Between NC State and Local Officials Targets Illegal Fentanyl Distribution

On March 27, 2024, the US Attorney’s Office (Western District of NC) released a statement highlighting new efforts to combat the ongoing fentanyl epidemic. US Attorney Dena J. King of NC will partner with Attorney General Josh Stein and local law enforcement officials to help spread awareness and hold individuals who sell lethal substances, such as fentanyl, accountable for serious bodily injuries, drug poisonings, and overdose deaths.

“Families should not have to face this crisis alone,” US Attorney King said at a at a press conference held at the Mecklenburg County Detention Center in Charlotte, NC. “My Office is committed to supporting our communities and our law enforcement partners through this crisis and bringing to justice those responsible for poisoning our friends, our neighbors, and our loved ones. Together, we will fight against this epidemic to free our communities from its deadly grip and make funding available to support vital prevention, treatment, and recovery efforts.”

Fentanyl continues to plague headlines related to addiction and overdose deaths nationwide. Attorney General Josh Stein, in partnership with US Attorney King and the Fentanyl Task Force, aim to hold drug traffickers “accountable.”

As noted in the release, the synthetic opioid is 50 times more potent than other well-known illicit drugs, such as heroin. And according to the DEA, the agency “seized more than 79.5 million fentanyl-laced fake pills and nearly 12,000 pounds of fentanyl powder.”

The NC partnership shows a promising fight against the epidemic.

Reference

US Attorney Dena J. King joins state and local officials to highlight efforts to combat the fentanyl epidemic. News release. US Attorney’s Office (Western District of NC). Published March 27, 2024. Accessed March 28, 2024. https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdnc/pr/us-attorney-dena-j-king-joins-state-and-local-officials-highlight-efforts-combat