Showing posts with label drugs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label drugs. Show all posts

King County Prosecutor files multiple charges against drug runners

Friday, February 23, 2024

K9 Officer Quinn poses with drugs seized in an August 2023 arrest
Photo courtesy KCSO

The King County Sheriff’s Office (KCSO) recently shared information about their investigation that seized nearly $1.5 million worth of drugs, including 37 pounds of fentanyl. The Burien and Shoreline police departments were credited with the arrests, including K9 Quinn

The King County prosecutor has filed multiple felony charges in this case. (See previous story - case from August 2023)

These defendants were involved in a major drug trafficking enterprise. [one defendant] admitted to transporting hundreds of pounds of drugs in his semi-truck, as he made regular trips from southern California to Washington State. 

In this instance alone he had over 37 pounds of deadly Fentanyl, 3 pounds of Methamphetamine and approximately 1.6 pounds of Heroin. 

He had approximately $10,000 in cash in his truck — which is what he said he was paid on these drug runs. [a second defendant] took delivery of this large amount of drugs to sell to the people of Western Washington. 

They have no prior, known criminal history, but are clearly major actors in the drug trade which has an enormous impact on public health.


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Shoreline Police and K9 Quinn credited in two major drug busts

Sunday, February 18, 2024

K9 Quinn and confiscated drugs and money

On Wednesday, February 7, 2024 King County Sheriff's Office Precinct 4 Special Emphasis Team (SET) wrapped up a narcotics operation aimed at an associate of the Sinaloa Cartel. 

This person was distributing fentanyl and methamphetamine in Index, Shoreline, and several other areas in north King County and Snohomish County.

The operation resulted in 36,900 M-3 Fentanyl pills, 9 pounds Fentanyl power, 6 pounds of methamphetamine, 1.8 pounds of heroin, 2060 MDMA pills, $8,960 cash seized and 1 car seized

One suspect was booked on charges of Investigation VUCSA-WI and VUCSA Conspiracy.

This operation covered a vast geographical area and required hours of surveillance and multiple search warrants. 

We couldn’t have done it without the assistance of multiple KCSO deputies around King County, Shoreline Police Department SET, SeaTac SET, our King County Sheriff's Office Communications Center, and Lake Stevens Police Department.

K9 Quinn poses with drugs and money confiscated in an operation completed in August 2023
Photo courtesy King County Police

Previously, in a successful operation reported by County Executive Dow Constantine on August 9, 2023, Shoreline Police and the King County Sheriff’s Office seized more than $1.2 million in drugs, including 290,000 fentanyl pills and over 9 pounds of fentanyl powder, cocaine, heroin, cash, and stolen firearms.

"Amidst significant staffing shortages and various hurdles, Shoreline Police Department has remained committed to keeping our investigative teams intact," said Shoreline Police Chief Kelly Park. 
"In this particular case, our dedicated detectives worked swiftly and efficiently to gather essential information. Their collaboration with KCSO's SW Precinct detectives proved invaluable, facilitating the prompt and secure retrieval of these deadly narcotics and firearms. 
The diligent efforts of our investigators seamlessly align with the City of Shoreline Council's goals to promote community safety and foster healthy neighborhoods."

One suspect was booked into King County Jail on a firearms violation and multiple counts of violating the Uniformed Controlled Substances Act – Possession with intent.


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AG Ferguson: PR firm will pay Washington state $7.9 million for helping Purdue aggressively and deceptively market opioids

Thursday, February 8, 2024

Attorney General Bob Ferguson announced recently that public relations firm Publicis Health will pay Washington state more than $7.9 million for its role in fueling the opioid epidemic. 

The Washington Attorney General’s Office has recovered more than $1.2 billion and counting that must be used to combat the fentanyl and opioid crisis in Washington as a result of legal actions against entities that helped fuel the epidemic.

Publicis Health was the main marketing firm for Purdue Pharma for more than a decade. Publicis Health helped Purdue’s sales force target prescribers who would be most likely to prescribe large amounts of opioids, and had some prescribers record conversations with their patients to help the company better market the highly addictive narcotics.

The $7.9 million will come to the state in the next several months, and can be appropriated during the 2024 legislative session. As part of a $350 million multistate resolution, Publicis Health will no longer market or advertise opioid products.

Today’s announcement is in addition to the $149.5 million resolution with Johnson & Johnson

Successful previous outcomes include:
  • $518 million from distributors McKesson, Cardinal Health and AmerisourceBergen.
  • $183 million from manufacturer Purdue Pharma and the Sackler family bankruptcy.
  • $149.5 million from Johnson & Johnson.
  • $120.3 million from Walgreens.
  • $110.7 million from CVS.
  • $90.8 million from Teva Pharmaceuticals.
  • $62.6 million from Walmart.
  • $50 million from Allergan.
  • $13.5 million from McKinsey, a consulting firm that advised Purdue Pharma.
  • $7.9 million from Publicis Health.
  • $7.7 million from the Mallinckrodt bankruptcy.

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Gov. Inslee is updated on the opioid and overdose epidemic in Washington

Monday, January 29, 2024

Narcan can save someone who has overdosed
By Grace Deng

Gov. Jay Inslee, on Wednesday, January 24, 2024 asked state health and social services officials to update him on the opioid and overdose epidemic in Washington.

Here are four takeaways from Inslee’s public performance review.

1. Overdose death rates have skyrocketed in recent years, driven primarily by the fentanyl wave.

There were 2,001 opioid overdose deaths in 2022 and 1,803 of those were fentanyl, according to Washington Department of Health data. 

Fentanyl deaths have surged since 2019 and far outpace other devastating chapters of the opioid epidemic, including waves of fatalities from prescription opioids in the early 2000s and from heroin around 2016.

Both prescription opioid and heroin overdose deaths are on the decline. (Washington State Department of Health)

2. Fentanyl is driving deaths and close calls of children involved in the state’s welfare system.

The Department of Children, Youth and Families has reported 49 “critical incidents” in 2023, 33 of which were driven by fentanyl. The agency defines a “critical incident” as a child fatality or near fatality that occurs within 12 months of involvement with the child welfare system. Among fentanyl-related critical incidents, 88% involved children under 2 years old.

DCYF also found the majority of critical incidents occurred in cases where there was no immediate safety threat at the time of a caseworker’s assessment, but the risk assessments identified the child’s home as having a moderate or high level of risk.

3. Indigenous people die at disproportionately high rates from fentanyl overdoses.

The overdose death rate for American Indian and Alaska Native people in Washington is 97 deaths per 100,000, more than twice the rate for the next most-impacted group, Black individuals, at 45.8 deaths per 100,000. The group least affected by deadly opioid overdoses is Asians, at 3.5 deaths per 100,000.

Tribal leaders are investing in efforts to combat the opioid epidemic but are also asking the state for help and calling on Gov. Jay Inslee to announce a state of emergency.

4. Most state prisoners have a substance use disorder, but few receive medication that can help.

The Department of Corrections estimates that 63% of their prison population has a substance use disorder. That’s 7,984 prisoners of the state’s 12,760 as of 2023. The state also acknowledges that its reported percentages are probably underestimations.

However, only 32% of eligible prisoners are getting medication for opioid use disorder — and very few prisoners with substance use disorders are even eligible. Medication-assisted treatment is considered the “gold standard” for opioid use disorder treatment.

Naloxone was used 103 times in Department of Corrections facilities from January to November 2023 and drug overdoses are a driving factor of unexpected prisoner deaths.

5. In other news: The state has now won opioid settlements totaling more than $1.2 billion.

Attorney General Bob Ferguson announced Wednesday that Johnson & Johnson will pay the state $149.5 million to settle a lawsuit accusing the healthcare industry giant of deceptive marketing practices that helped fuel the opioid epidemic in Washington.

The funds will be evenly split between the state and 125 cities and counties. Those dollars must be spent on treatment and recovery services, and halting the spread of opioids and fentanyl. The remainder will cover the state’s legal costs.

Ferguson said he thinks the Legislature can appropriate the state’s share of the Johnson & Johnson settlement, roughly $61.6 million, during the 2024 legislative session. With the latest settlement, Ferguson’s office said the state has now secured upwards of $1.2 billion from opioid-related litigation.

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Community safety – Twin threats of firearms and fentanyl

Friday, January 26, 2024

Some of the blue fentanyl pills seized in the district.
From Report to the Community
By U.S. Attorney Tessa Gorman
Dept of Justice - Western Washington District

Federal law enforcement works tirelessly to stem the flow of potentially deadly fentanyl pills into Western Washington. 

The Western District of Washington filed 63 drug prosecutions in 2023, involving some 135 defendants. 

That is 14% more drug cases and a 27% increase in drug defendants over last year. 

Our cases focus on cartel connected organizations, violent drug dealers, and those having a dramatic impact on our communities.

Fentanyl pills
The Criminal Enterprises Unit leads investigations of organized drug trafficking groups. 

Whether the traffickers are operating in the urban core or in our rural communities, law enforcement makes stopping the flow of deadly fentanyl a top priority. 

Some of those trafficking these drugs have clear connections to Mexico based cartels such as CJNG – a group known for its violence. 

Two leaders of that drug trafficking organization were sentenced to 17 and 12 years in prison.

The influx of fentanyl tainted pills into Western Washington continues to wreak havoc on our communities with fentanyl overdose deaths at an all-time high in King county.

Some of the firearms seized in a raid
In March 2023, we indicted 24 people connected to a white supremacist prison gang for trafficking fentanyl, meth, and other drugs. 

Law enforcement seized nearly 2 million doses of fentanyl and more than 225 firearms – some shown at left.

As part of our commitment to public safety and interdicting gun crime, federal prosecutors joined with the Seattle Police Department and Drug Enforcement Administration to prosecute those who were dealing drugs in key downtown Seattle hot spots while carrying firearms. 

Our Terrorism and Violent Crime Unit prosecuted nine people who were selling narcotics – primarily fentanyl pills (such as those at right) -- at 12th and Jackson (Chinatown/International District) and at 3rd and Pike/Pine. 

These vibrant parts of Seattle have become a magnet for crime with open air drug dealing. Ongoing efforts by the city and federal partners are aimed at returning a sense of safety to these sections of the city. In one of the cases we prosecuted from this effort, an armed drug dealer from the downtown area was sentenced to five years in prison.


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UW Med: simultaneous publication of 10 research papers exploring relationship between chronic pain and traumatic brain injury

Dr. Jeanne Hoffman
UW Medicine’s Dr. Jeanne Hoffman and colleagues from across the nation were poised to celebrate their exceptional achievement: the simultaneous publication of 10 research papers that explore the relationship between chronic pain and traumatic brain injury.

Then came another, even rarer, reason for jubilation: They learned that their papers would fill the current issue of The Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation, cover to cover. 

It was the scientific equivalent of a baseball triple play, a rare and noteworthy achievement.

“We've all been a little bit bowled over,” said Hoffman, a professor of rehabilitation medicine at the University of Washington School of Medicine. 
“Typically, topical issues are only part of a larger journal. We definitely managed to fill the whole thing.”

Hoffman co-authored the preface and nine of 10 articles in the series. The 10th, on the use of cannabis and opiates in association with TBI, was co-authored by Amy Starosta, assistant professor of rehabilitation medicine at the UW School of Medicine. 

Research has shown a high prevalence of long-term chronic pain among people who had experienced traumatic brain injury. In surveying more than 3,800 people from that population, Hoffman and her colleagues found that about 60% reported current or previous chronic pain. 

“What we saw is really high rates of chronic pain across many years post-injury,” Hoffman said. “These are  people who even 25 or 30 years out have about the same rates of chronic pain. Around 46% of our group are reporting experiencing current chronic pain, which tells us that they're probably not getting the right kind of treatment.”

Another complication for doctors: The sources of pain associated with TBI vary. Pain can stem from the brain injury itself, or from soft tissue or muscles and bones.. Neuropathic pain and cognitive difficulties are seen as significant barriers to the effective treatment of chronic pain. 

Addressing chronic pain more effectively in individuals with TBI has the potential to improve their health and quality of life. People with traumatic brain injuries who also have chronic pain tend to report more disability, worse psychological health and greater difficulty reintegrating into their communities. 

Addressing chronic pain in this patient population is especially important, given the heightened focus on opioid addiction globally. 



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Bill introduced by Rep. Lauren Davis would limit high-potency cannabis products

Tuesday, January 16, 2024

Rep. Lauren Davis, D-32
OLYMPIA – High-potency THC cannabis products pose physical and mental harms that must be addressed, according to legislation introduced by Rep. Lauren Davis (D-Shoreline) and Rep. Tom Dent (R-Moses Lake).

“Today, there’s no legal limit on the potency of the psychoactive element, THC, in cannabis concentrates,” Davis said. 
“Cannabis vape oils, dabs, and shatter are regularly sold with a THC potency of nearly 100 percent—a ten-fold increase in potency from when cannabis was legalized in 2012. These concentrated products are different. And dangerous.”

House Bill 2320 spreads awareness of the dangers of high-potency THC to Washingtonians and funds the development of interventions in healthcare settings for individuals at risk of adverse health impacts from high THC products.

“The cannabis industry has changed considerably since cannabis was legalized,” Dent said. “This legislation is needed to address the everchanging market and put some measures in place to protect cannabis users and our youth.”

The bill, which will be heard in the House Regulated Substances and Gaming Committee on Tuesday, Jan. 16, also raises the age of purchase of high THC products to 25, consistent with science about brain development.

According to Dr. Beatriz Carlini, from the University of Washington’s Addictions, Drug, and Alcohol Institute, these high-THC cannabis products are “as close to the cannabis plant as strawberries are to frosted strawberry pop tarts.”

House Bill 2320 recognizes a consensus statement released by The University of Washington and Washington State University about the public health risks posed by high THC products.

That statement summarizes the best available science: “the use of cannabis with high THC concentration increases the chances of developing cannabis use disorder or addiction to cannabis, particularly among adolescents. … Daily cannabis use, particularly of high-potency products, increases the risk of developing a psychotic disorder, like schizophrenia, and is related to an earlier onset of symptoms compared to people who do not use cannabis.”

The number of young people who are being impacted by the high potency of cannabis is increasing rapidly. It is leading to serious mental health issues such as psychosis,” Dent said. “We need to address this crisis before it filters deeper into our communities.”

If enacted, the legislature would also provide funding to the Department of Health to inform Washingtonians about the harms associated with high-potency THC cannabis products through social marketing and public health messages.

“This is a case where an addiction-for-profit industry has outpaced public policy,” Davis said. “It is our duty as lawmakers to learn from history and not repeat it. We must act now to protect public health. It is past time.”

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State campaign aims to end overdose deaths

Monday, January 1, 2024

Narcan (naloxone) nasal spray will stop a drug overdose.
It is available without prescription at pharmacies.
At least 17,500 Washingtonians have died by drug overdose since 2007. 

The King County Medical Examiner issues a daily list of autopsies they have performed of people who died in suspicious or unusual circumstances. 

Every day there are two to five reports of people who died with fentanyl in their bodies.

Fentanyl is overtaking meth and heroin as cause of death because users either do not know they are ingesting fentanyl or they can't tell how much is in what they are taking.

The people who die are our spouses, children, parents, siblings, coworkers, neighbors, and friends.

The state Health Care Authority has launched a “Friends for Life” campaign to inform younger Washingtonians about the risks of opioids and the importance of naloxone to reverse overdoses.

By carrying naloxone, “friends” may one day save someone who has overdosed.

Washington State Department of Health says "Find out the three things you can do to help prevent overdose" Information here


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Seattle Police arrest two suspects involved in the distribution of narcotics in the North End

Tuesday, December 12, 2023

Drugs confiscated and dealers arrested
Photo courtesy Seattle PD

Seattle Police arrested two suspects involved in the distribution of narcotics in the University District, Ballard, Aurora corridor in Northgate, and Bitter Lake communities.

For three months, SPD’s Narcotics detectives and agents with Homeland Security conducted investigations and surveillance of two suspects known for distributing fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine, and heroine throughout the city of Seattle, Snohomish County, and Skagit County.

On Wednesday November 22, 2023 starting at 5:00am, SPD and HSI served warrants on the suspect’s residences, a storage locker, and vehicles associated with the suspects. The suspects were located at their respective residence and taken into custody.

After completion of all the search warrants, the law enforcement agencies recovered the following: 
  • 4,162 grams of fentanyl pills (approximately 41,000 fentanyl pills)
  • 2,261.9 grams of methamphetamine (5 pounds)
  • 82.7 grams of cocaine (over half pound)
  • 1,762.8 grams of powder fentanyl (3.9 pounds)
  • $42,441 in US currency
  • Rifle ammunition
  • 1 Vehicle
The 21-year-old male suspect was booked into Snohomish County Jail and the 26-year-old male suspect into King County Jail. Both were arrested for three counts of possession with intent to deliver cocaine, methamphetamine and fentanyl in powder and pill form.


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Quarterly Overdose Prevention and Response Training from Public Health

Tuesday, December 5, 2023


Join Seattle - King County Public Health this Thursday, December 7, 2023, for their last Quarterly Overdose Prevention and Response Training of the year.

This FREE online one-hour training is for the public and professionals interested in 2023 overdose and drug trends, training on opioid overdose, and how to use and access naloxone.

Everyone is welcome. Please register.

WHAT: Quarterly Overdose Prevention & Response Training
WHEN: Thursday, December 7th, 5:30pm – 6:30pm
WHERE: ZOOM Please Register


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UW Med: More study needed into the ‘why’ of new weight-loss drugs

Wednesday, October 11, 2023

A cartridge injector is used to administer
Ozempic and other medications that help
control blood-sugar levels.
Getty Images, courtesy UW Med blog
Hitting the market over the past six years, the drugs Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro are viewed as a therapeutic breakthrough for the 42% of the U.S. population who are clinically obese. 

One Seattle endocrinologist suggests, however, that their unknowns are significant, and more research is needed.

It is premature to regard these drugs as the ultimate weight-loss therapy, Dr. Michael Schwartz co-wrote in a commentary published this week in The Journal of Clinical Investigation.

Many experts seem to be saying “OK, we’ve fixed this problem. We’re done,” noted Schwartz, who co-directs the UW Medicine Diabetes Institute.

The commentary contends that concerns about the drugs’ specific mechanisms of action have not been addressed — among them, why some people who have experienced pronounced weight loss with the drugs “regain the weight at an extraordinary pace — even faster than it was lost” upon discontinuing the drugs.

Learn more about Schwartz’s perspective in this UW Medicine Newsroom blog post.


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Snohomish man sentenced to 17 years in prison for drug, gun, and murder-for-hire related charges

Sunday, October 1, 2023

Tacoma – A Snohomish, Washington, man who was rearrested following his sentencing in a drug trafficking scheme, was sentenced to 17 years in prison for charges including attempting to hire a hitman to kill a witness in his case, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman.

Michael John Scott, 44, was sentenced today to 17 years in prison for Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances, Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking, Use of Interstate Commerce Facilities in the Commission of Murder for Hire, and Tampering with a Witness, Victim, or Informant. 

At the sentencing hearing, U.S. District Judge Robert J. Bryan said, “Mr. Scott had a long history of drug dealing capped by using interstate facilities to attempt to commit murder for hire and tampering with a witness.” Judge Bryan called these crimes “most serious offenses.”

Scott was sentenced in January 2020 to 78 months in prison for dealing fentanyl-laced pills and cocaine. 

According to documents filed with the court, as Scott was awaiting sentencing for his earlier drug distribution crimes, he continued to set up drug deals. Prior to Scott being remanded to custody for his 78-month sentence, he attempted to execute a drug deal. 

On January 30, 2020, he was arrested as he arrived to sell fentanyl pills to a person in Whatcom County. That person was working with law enforcement.

Following the January 2020 arrest, while in custody at the Federal Detention Center in SeaTac, Washington, Scott agreed to pay an associate $2,000 if he would assist Scott in finding a hitman to kill a witness against him and an associate of that witness. 

Scott said he would pay $10,000 each for the murders. Scott told his associate that he wanted the deaths to appear to be fentanyl overdoses. 

In June and July 2021, Scott wrote letters disguised as ‘legal mail’ to the person he thought was the hitman and to a friend he wanted to handle payment for the crimes. Through that friend, Scott made the upfront agreed upon payment to someone who he believed to be a hitman.

Scott pleaded guilty in June 2019 for his role in U.S. v Hernandez et al, a 32-defendant drug trafficking case that was unsealed in December 2018. 

Scott was a high-volume redistributor of fentanyl-laced imitation oxycodone pills and cocaine, who delivered hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash to his cartel suppliers for the drugs–sometimes as much as $150,000 at a time. 

When Scott’s home was searched in December 2018, law enforcement recovered illegal drugs, more than $40,000 in cash, and other tools of the drug trade.

The case was investigated by the FBI, the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office, and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Kristine Foerster and Max Shiner.


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State Patrol needs witnesses for a serious injury collision on I-5 Labor Day

Friday, September 8, 2023

I-5 was closed for five hours after the crash
Photo courtesy WSP

The State Patrol is seeking witnesses to the wrong-way driver multi-vehicle crashes on I-5 Labor Day, Monday, September 4, 2023. (See previous article)

At approximately 5am on Monday, September 4, 2023, a Washington State Patrol (WSP) Trooper drove up on a serious injury collision on southbound I-5 just south of Mercer St.

When the trooper arrived he observed two passenger cars with heavy front end damage and one semi with minor damage.

The location of the vehicles and debris across all lanes made it necessary to shut down all lanes of SB I-5. Seattle Fire responded as there were multiple occupants with injuries and one trapped in a vehicle. 

Multiple patients were transported to Harborview with injuries ranging from a broken leg to internal injuries.

The driver of the causing vehicle was transported to Harborview and was showing signs of impairment. The driver was placed into custody for investigation of Vehicular Assault.

Detectives are seeking witnesses to the collision of the causing vehicles driving prior to the collision.

Anyone with any information is asked to email Detective Haake at Russ.Haake@wsp.wa.gov


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Edmonds police pursuit from Woodway to downtown Edmonds Tuesday

Wednesday, August 23, 2023

Photo courtesy Edmonds police
On Tuesday, August 22, 2023 Edmonds Police Officers were investigating a DUI driver who was passed out behind the wheel in the middle of the road in the Town of Woodway.

The suspect awoke and fled, leading officers on supervisor authorized pursuit towards downtown Edmonds and 5th Ave S. 

Three patrol cars intervened at low speeds to pin the suspect vehicle to preserve pedestrian safety. 

There were no injuries and only minor damage to PD cars. 

The adult male suspect (30 year old from Renton) is in custody and being processed for DUI and Hit and Run. The 1100 block of 5th Ave S was closed for a few hours.

Edmonds Police provide contract police services to the Town of Woodway.


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$1.2 million in narcotics blocked by Shoreline Police and King County Sheriff’s Office - keeping nearly 300,000 fentanyl pills off the street

Thursday, August 10, 2023

Narcotics Detection K9 Quinn poses with drugs he helped take out of circulation
Photo courtesy Shoreline Police

Nearly 300,000 fentanyl pills and other narcotics are out of the hands of a narcotics trafficker thanks to the work of the King County Sheriff’s Office, which recently conducted an operation to stop the dangerous drug from hitting the street. 

The amount of fentanyl seized is enough to cause more than 2 million lethal doses and is one of the largest seizures ever for the Sheriff’s Office.

Operation “Jade” took place on Thursday, August 3rd, and was led by the Shoreline Police Special Emphasis Team (SET) and assisted by Precinct 4 SET and Narcotics Detection K9 Quinn. 

The operation targeted a narcotics trafficker suspected of distributing large amounts of fentanyl and other substances in the cities of Shoreline, Burien, White Center, and Seattle.

"Amidst significant staffing shortages and various hurdles, Shoreline Police Department has remained committed to keeping our investigative teams intact," said Shoreline Police Chief Kelly Park. 
"In this particular case, our dedicated detectives worked swiftly and efficiently to gather essential information. Their collaboration with KCSO's SW Precinct detectives proved invaluable, facilitating the prompt and secure retrieval of these deadly narcotics and firearms. 
"The diligent efforts of our investigators seamlessly align with the City of Shoreline Council's goals to promote community safety and foster healthy neighborhoods."

The operation seized:
  • 290,000 M-30/fentanyl pills
  • 9.5 pounds of fentanyl powder
  • 1 pound of cocaine
  • 5.7 pounds of heroin
  • $52,043 in cash
  • 1 stolen firearm (handgun)
“I’m incredibly grateful for the hard work of our Sheriff’s Office in fighting the scourge of fentanyl,” said Executive Dow Constantine. “In this one operation, the Sheriff’s Office stopped enough fentanyl to take the lives of millions of people. King County will not stop in this fight, and we’re working around the clock, through law enforcement, public health, and human services to protect people from this deadly toxin.”

One suspect was booked into King County Jail on a firearms violation and multiple counts of violating the Uniformed Controlled Substances Act – Possession with intent.

Operation Jade was dedicated to and named after retired King County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Detection K9 Jade, who sadly passed away last month, surrounded by her family. Jade dedicated much of her life to protecting the communities of King County and bringing joy to whoever was fortunate enough to interact with her.

“We’re incredibly proud of our dedicated deputies who, through their relentless efforts and investigation, were able to remove a large amount of narcotics from our community,” said King County Sheriff Patti Cole-Tindall. 
“Every drug removed from our streets is a potential life saved, and this operation showcases our commitment to enhancing safety for all within our neighborhoods.”


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Enjoying Seafair to a dangerous level: 16 arrested for BUI at Seafair

Sunday, August 6, 2023

Photo courtesy WSP

Over the last two days Troopers have arrested 16 people for BUIs (Boating Under the Influence) at SeaFair. 

As we go into the last day, please be safe out on the water and have a sober driver.


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Sen. Cantwell: Key fentanyl legislation passes the U.S. Senate

Monday, July 31, 2023

Washington Senator Maria Cantwell on the floor of the Senate

FEND Off Fentanyl Act declares international fentanyl trafficking a national emergency, aims to reduce fentanyl supply by targeting criminal organizations

“This legislation provides the President with new tools to stop the illicit fentanyl flooding our borders,” says Senator Maria Cantwell

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Late Thursday night, July 27, 2023 after the FEND Off Fentanyl Act passed the U.S. Senate as part of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) spoke on the floor of the Senate about the fentanyl crisis.

The FEND Off Fentanyl Act would enhance current law so U.S. government agencies can more effectively disrupt illicit opioid supply chains and penalize those facilitating the trafficking of fentanyl. 

It also declares international trafficking of fentanyl, and the precursors used to make it, a national emergency. The bill was included in the Senate version of the Fiscal Year 2024 NDAA, which passed with an 86-11 vote. Sen. Cantwell voted in favor of the NDAA and cosponsored the FEND Off Fentanyl Act.

“The fentanyl crisis is having a direct and dire impact on families in the state of Washington and all throughout the United States. In the past 12 months, more than 65,000 Americans have died by overdosing on synthetic opioids like fentanyl,” said Sen. Cantwell. 
“A crisis of this magnitude demands a robust federal response. And that's why this legislation provides the President with new tools to stop the illicit fentanyl flooding our borders and those that are trying to transport it into our country.”
 
“The bill specifically calls out eight known cartels in Mexico, which means that [the Department of the] Treasury can investigate suspicious activities involved here and declare sanctions. It recognizes that these traffickers once identified can have sanctions imposed and can have forfeiture of their property,” said Sen. Cantwell. 

“According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, my state, Washington, experienced the single highest increase among US states in reported drug overdoses last year, an increase of more than 21%.
"Hundreds of traumatized families that will never be the same. Thousands of first responders struggling to cope with this daily tragedy that they respond to. The statistics are stunning. But they're also just very tragic.”

Sen. Cantwell has been conducting a listening tour across Washington state to hear from people on the front lines of the fentanyl crisis. In May, Sen. Cantwell hosted a fentanyl crisis roundtable discussion in Pierce County followed by a second roundtable discussion in Snohomish County in June; earlier this month, she convened a roundtable in the Tri-Cities and a roundtable in downtown Seattle.

Drug overdose is the leading cause of accidental death in Washington state, outnumbering deaths from vehicle collisions and firearms. 

Data released earlier this year by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that the State of Washington experienced the single highest increase among U.S. states in reported drug overdose deaths between February 2022 and February 2023, an increase of 21.42%.

Now that the Senate has passed the NDAA, lawmakers must reconcile the differences between the House and Senate version of the bill before ultimately heading to the President’s desk.


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First episode of King County Recovery Conversations (KCRC) podcast features Shoreline legislator Lauren Davis

Friday, July 28, 2023

The King County Recovery Conversations podcast is LIVE everywhere you listen to podcasts!

The first episode features Rep. Lauren Davis, WRA’s Founding Executive Director, and KCRC Director Heather Venegas. 

Join us as they discuss Lauren’s story, the history of WRA and KCRC, and kick off the podcast.

Listen to real stories of people who are in recovery and be inspired to share your own! 

Our conversations will focus on personal experiences, resources, and supports available for those who are seeking to overcome substance use and mental health challenges. 

Our goal is to inspire hope, reduce stigma, and promote recovery in the King County area and beyond.

We hope you’ll join us and listen in. You’ll find us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon, Google and Youtube. Episodes drop every 2 weeks on Mondays.
If you or someone you know is struggling, there are resources available.

Washington Recovery Helpline 1-(866)-789-1511

Washington Recovery Helpline is a program of Crisis Connections. They offer an anonymous, confidential 24-hour help line for Washington State residents. This help line is for those experiencing substance use disorder, problem gambling, and/or a mental health challenge.

Call, text, or chat 988 to be connected to the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It is confidential, free, and available 24/7/365.

988 Lifeline services are available in Spanish, along with interpretation services in over 250 languages. For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, and TTY users, use your preferred relay service or dial 711 then 988.


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UW Med: Study of psilocybin with group therapy for patients with metastatic cancer

Tuesday, July 25, 2023

Psilocybin mushrooms photo courtesy GoodRx
Recruitment has begun for a small study of whether psilocybin, in the setting of group psychotherapy, can reduce anxiety related to a diagnosis of metastatic cancer.

Psilocybin is the psychedelic compound found in some species of mushrooms.

“Studies have explored psilocybin’s value among people with cancer, but in a format of two therapists to one patient. 
"Other researchers have seen impressive benefits of psilocybin in reducing anxiety and depression in a group setting. 
"I am asking the question of whether we could have a similar benefit for people with cancer in a group,” said Dr. Anthony Back, a UW Medicine oncologist and palliative-care specialist.

He will lead the study, which will include a maximum of 56 people and be based solely at the University of Washington School of Medicine. He expects to announce findings in about two years.

More details here.


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Too close to home: Edmonds man arrested with stash of 4,000 fentanyl pills

Tuesday, July 11, 2023

Photo courtesy Snohomish County Sheriff's Office
On Friday, July 7, 2023 the Snohomish Regional Drug Task Force arrested a man in Edmonds related to an ongoing investigation. 

The suspect, a man in his 40s, was arrested and detectives recovered 4,000 fentanyl pills, 170 grams of meth and 52 grams of fentanyl powder.


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