Fentanyl seizures by Colorado State Patrol grew by more than 400% in last year
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO)-- Newly reported data from the Colorado State Patrol's Smuggling, Trafficking, and Interdiction Sections (STIS) unit shows an alarming amount of fentanyl was seized in the state in 2021.
The statistics could reflect just a fraction of how much of the drug is actually on our streets.
The STIS team actually had 3% fewer drug cases in 2021 than in 2020, but that's where the good news ends.
In 2021, there was a 403% increase in the amount of fentanyl powder seized by authorities.
"We're seeing that fentanyl is being brought in from the coast and working its way inward," Fourth Judicial District Attorney Michael Allen told KRDO last week. "We're starting to see it trickle into Colorado."
In a push for legislative change with stricter penalties, Allen's office sent out a release early this week, highlighting the case of a Colorado Springs mother who was arrested on charges of giving Percocet laced with fentanyl to minors.
His office says the alleged actions of Maria Davis-Conchie led to the death of a young man. Court records show Davis-Conchie is not yet facing charges for causing a death. She is, however, due in court Thursday morning on drug charges.
While that alleged fentanyl usage was not caught in time by authorities, it wasn't because they weren't trying.
In 2021, STIS says it seized 1400 pounds of methamphetamine and 151 pounds of fentanyl powder.
"Two milligrams of fentanyl can be deadly," Allen said. "With two milligrams you could have two pills that are counterfeit pills, and there's no way to tell by looking at the pills how much fentanyl is in one of those pills."
The problem appears to be growing. This past year STIS seized more narcotics by weight, than at any other time over the last 5 years. According to Allen, it's become increasingly tough to prosecute people that cause a deadly fentanyl overdose.
"If somebody distributes a drug that leads to an overdose death, there's a weakness on our side, in the stateside, that we can't prosecute that person for the overdose death in the same way that the federal government can.'
That's leading other agencies to pitch in to solve the problem. The Pikes Peak Area Crimestoppers on Wednesday announced that it is now offering a $1,000 reward for information that leads to an arrest of any person distributing fentanyl.
