This is an ongoing investigation and we will provide updates as information becomes available. In 2021, 60,577 dosage units were seized. But as the Eastern Montana Drug Task force makes progress in taking down drug operations, Wooley said law enforcement is still seeing an increase. Report a crime or to speak with an officer : 406-758-7780, ext. The mission of the Missouri River Drug Task Force is to provide a collaborative federal, state and local law enforcement effort to identify, target, and address those involved in drug trafficking, manufacture, and/or violence. An official website of the United States government. 1, Administration, Detectives, or Records: 406-758-7780, ext. A lock ( DEA. BUTTE Details about a standoff between a reported armed man and law enforcement in Uptown Butte were released Friday afternoon. Task forces secured a whopping 206,955 dosage units of the drug in 2022, up from 60,577 in 2021, and 1,900 in 2019 the figures from six task forces "are not all inclusive of drugs seized by all law enforcement in the state," according to the press release. "As 2022 comes to an end, the Drug Enforcement Administration is announcing the seizure of over 50.6 million fentanyl-laced, fake prescription pills and more than 10,000 pounds of fentanyl powder this calendar year," the DEA noted in a December press release. Located in a sweeping valley in the heart of the Rocky Mountains, Gallatin County is the most populated and fastest growing county in scenic southwest Montana. According to Knudsen, the Rocky Mountain High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (RMHIDTA) task force seized 206,955 dosage units of Fentanyl, roughly 10,800 percent more than in 2019 when the number of dosage units seized was 1,900. 162 0 obj <> endobj The national HIDTA program is federally funded with the goal to identify, and disrupt or dismantle drug trafficking organizations. The EMHIDTA task force partners local/state investigators with federal investigators, allowing the task force to conduct investigations globally. Montana communities are seeing the impacts of the drug trade first-hand, leaving local law enforcement left to deal with an increase in crimes associated with meth. Participating agencies include Department of Homeland Security, FBI, Drug Enforcement Agency, Montana Department of Justice, Gallatin County Sheriffs Office, Lewis & Clark County Sheriffs Office, Park County Sheriffs Office, Bozeman Police Department, Helena Police Department, and Montana State University Police Department. In 2016, the DEA State and Local Task Force Program managed 271 state and local task forces, which included Program Funded, Provisional, HIDTA, and Tactical Diversion Squads. However, in some cases that go to prosecution, the complainant can be asked or subpoenaed to testify. Lincoln County Unite for YouthUnite for Youth is focused on a community-based approach to education and prevention of youth drug and alcohol abuse. Libby, MT 59923 The national HIDTA program is federally funded with the goal to identify, and disrupt or dismantle drug trafficking organizations. Secure .gov websites use HTTPSA lock ( Years ago, meth was manufactured in homes but state laws cracked down on homegrown labs and awareness about the drug was highly publicized with the Montana Meth Project. Get Smart About DrugsGet Smart About Drugs is a DEA resource for parents, educators & caregivers. Due to the complexity of drug problems in the region and the varied levels of drug trafficking, the New York City metropolitan area was ideal for federal, state, and local initiatives. 512 California Ave AG Knudsen noted that the actual number of fentanyl overdose deaths is higher, as the crime lab only accounts for deaths that result in autopsies. Libby, MT 59923 The detectives also conduct background checks on applicants applying to be hired by the Kalispell Police Department and other city agencies as requested. With the direct cooperation of our state and local partners, the creation of the Task Force Program is one of the most productive ways that DEA enforces these laws. For more information about our use of cookies, our collection, use, and disclosure of personal information generally, and any rights you may have to access, delete, or opt out of the sale of your personal information, please view our, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. The investigators of CCSIU work with the Eastern Montana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area task force or EMHIDTA. Commission Meetings. Lincoln County is a member of the Northwest Montana Drug Task Force. Just this year alone, to date, there are over 120 pounds of meth and over $600,000 in bulk cash seizures, said Wooley. According to his arrest report, Antonio Magnone, 35, of Weirton, West Virginia, was the former owner of Crowne Arcade, located at 8890 Lawrence Road. The drug scene in Montana has significantly changed. PART ONE:Montanas Drug Superhighway: Troopers form specialized team to stop interstate drug loads. Drug Free WorldThe Foundation for a Drug-Free World is a nonprofit public benefit corporation that empowers youth and adults with factual information about drugs so they can make informed decisions and live drug-free. We use cookies to better understand website visitors, for advertising, and to offer you a better experience. U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Montana Corrections (2) Montana Department of Corrections Montana Department of Probation/Parole Other (5) Eastern Montana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force Missoula County Drug Task Force Missouri River Drug Task Force Northwest Montana Drug Task Force Russell Country Drug Task Force Drug addiction has also led to an increase in property crime, according to Flathead County Sheriff's Office Sgt. Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way, Montanas Drug Superhighway: Troopers form specialized team to stop interstate drug loads. Great Falls Crime Task Force. . An adult woman was also inside the residence. A standoff continued for more than a day before police entered the home Thursday evening and . By: John Emeigh Posted at 6:18 PM, Oct 14, 2022 Still, Wooley believes you cant attack the problem from one side. Arrest records were electronically extracted from the Illinois State Police Criminal History Record Information System. Task forces secured a whopping 206,955 dosage units of the drug in 2022, up from 60,577 in . All Rights Reserved. Montana MethThe Montana Meth Project is a large-scale prevention program aimed at reducing first-time teen Meth use through public service messaging, public policy, and community outreach. 512 California Ave. "Our narcotics agents and troopers are getting more fentanyl off the roads than ever before, but we need additional tools and resources to keep it out of our communities," Knudsen noted. The community needs to obviously have some more resources and we need to come at it at a few different angles.. Setting the Record Straight on East Palestine, Greenies and Commies Partner For Propaganda, Montenegros EU Membership Key to Opposing Russias Imperial Aspirations. Officers of the Southwest Montana Drug Task Force reportedly had information that large quantities of dangerous drugs, including fentanyl, were being sold from the residence. Like Blaze News? The Drug Enforcement Administration and Montana Department of Justice's Division of Criminal Investigation led the investigation, with assistance from the U.S. The officers also had a felony extraditable arrest warrant for a 36-year-old man living at the residence. Also examined were arrest histories of those arrested by a MEG/TF. The Missouri River Drug Task Force is a multi-agency task force that goes after major drug trafficking organizations in Gallatin, Lewis and Clark, Park, Meagher, Madison, Broadwater, and Sweet Grass counties. Postal Inspection Service, Homeland Security Investigations, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Montana Highway Patrol, the Southwest Montana Drug Task Force, Butte . Their website provides useful information, useful links to websites & videos, a forum for both kids and parents and more. Tragically, there were 74 fentanyl-linked deaths in 2022 according to Montana's state crime lab, 51 percent more than 2021's 49 deaths. Montanas law enforcement and specifically Billings police know they have their work cut out for them in terms of the meth epidemic. Jy uGz->c&llP2dX'YWX1r"h~,e{ra\} ,.X4K|3Mw9YU-Ye2M7 =|`,jyw!bL"A:nQv +hB=p)_A:k~y_|/;l_^n4t$(`o. RAPID CITY, S.D. The investigators of CCSIU work with the Eastern Montana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area task force or EMHIDTA. The surge in interdictions was mirrored in an increase of fentanyl overdose deaths in Montana between 2021 and 2022. Its something the city of Billings and law enforcement know all too well. The difference between funded and provisional state and local task forces is that the financial support for funded task forces is provided by DEA headquarters and includes additional resources for state and local overtime. In approximately September 2000, agents of the Northwest Montana Drug Task Force (NWDTF), a drug task force operating in Lake and Flathead Counties, learned BENAVIDES was involved in the distribution of methamphetamine. Copyright Townhall.com/Salem Media. There, police assisted the Southwest Montana Drug Task Force in carrying out a search warrant on James Starcevich, 23. Monday, January 31st 2022 Sources confirm head of Northwest Drug Task Force under investigation MISSOULA, Mont. An explosive charge was used to safely gain access to the residence and Butte SWAT conducted a search of the interior. In 2017, the drug task force kicked into high gear with over 56 pounds of meth and $300,000 in bulk cash seized off the streets. First, you can call the non-emergency number to the Communications Center, 406-657-8200, and make a report. On the supply side, you have the manufacturing and then you have the distribution hubs. Burn Permit Application. And we advocate for greater understanding and more effective programs to treat the disease of addiction. By signing up to the Blaze News newsletter you agree to receive electronic communications from Blaze Media that may sometimes include advertisements or sponsored content. It comes by way of the interstate system and directly from Mexican drug cartels. As drug trafficking increased nationwide, DEA recognized the need for cooperation and coordination of drug enforcement efforts with their state and local counterparts. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. This includes summons and complaints, subpoenas, writs of executions, child support, foreclosures, and many others. Dan James Nichols, 47, from Belgrade, Mont., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen. Responsibilities The Missouri River Task Force, which includes Bozeman and Helena in a six-county region, could see the biggest dollar loss. In Montana, Attorney General Knudsen is working with and supporting state lawmakers as they seek to enact stiffer penalties for fentanyl traffickers, including mandatory minimums as one deterrent. Now, drug overdoses are a leading cause of death for young Americans. Established in 1995, the MNOA has subsequently grown in size to include over 100 members from throughout Montana. The Eastern Montana Drug Task Force prioritizes cases involving drug endangered children above all other criminal investigations. They dont want you to see this Big Tech does its best to limit what news you see. In 2022, the task force reported 25 percent more firearm seizures than in 2021, an increase from 375 to 474. During a search, our guys are looking for anomalies, things that are unusual, he said. National Drug Information Treatment and Referral Hotline1-800-662-(HELP) 4357TTY: 1-800-487-4889. All fees must accompany papers before service. The mission is to target, disrupt, and dismantle drug trafficking organizations and pursue street level interdiction through the cooperative effort of Local, State, and Federal Agencies.There are multiple resources available to the public that provide valuable information about the dangers of drugs.If you or someone you know is in need of help, please refer to the links below, or call the hotline below. Please contact the Sioux Falls Area Fugitive Task Force (605) 367-4614 or Crime Stoppers 367-7007 toll free 1-877-367-7007. This collaborative group, housed under the . Task force officers are also learning that vehicles with aftermarket switches and compartments are also being used to cross the border into Mexico and come back up to Montana, likely several times. Located in a breathtaking Rocky Mountain setting, it is close to world-class downhill skiing, blue ribbon trout streams, Yellowstone National Park and a multitude of other outdoor activities in the pristine nearby wilderness areas. In addition to fentanyl seizures, the task force indicted more than 207 pounds of methamphetamine, 7 pounds of heroin, and 22 pounds of cocaine in 2022. The first task force was comprised of investigators from major state and local regional agencies, primarily the New York City Police Department and the New York State, along with BNDD personnel. According to Sheriff Brian Heino, Shawback was demoted from running the Northwest Montana Drug Task Force and was put on administrative leave without pay for five days. In 2017, the drug task force kicked into high gear with over 56 pounds of meth and $300,000 in bulk cash seized off the streets. This content is courtesy of, and owned and copyrighted by, https://www.yc.news and its author. Create a Website Account - Manage notification subscriptions, save form progress and more. Official websites use .govA .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

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