According to Dawson County Undersheriff Katie Mills, teamwork and participation with the Eastern Montana Drug Task Force ensures safety for our children and community. Phone: 406-293-4112. Also examined were arrest histories of those arrested by a MEG/TF. United States Marshals Service - Wikipedia First, you can call the non-emergency number to the Communications Center, 406-657-8200, and make a report. The Eastern Montana High-Intensity Drug Task Force. Libby, MT 59923 Another man is under arrest on suspicion of murder and . Drug addiction has also led to an increase in property crime, according to Flathead County Sheriff's Office Sgt. 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. In addition to pursuing drug traffickers, the MRDTF supports the Montana Meth Project and the DEAs Drug Take Back Day. DEA. Meth bust nets 8 arrests - Montana Standard Still, the sheer quantities of the drug that have been seized by law enforcement remain staggering. And Wooley says the drugs are not immune to any one area or a specific type of person, changing much about what the ordinary person believes to be true about meth. Like Blaze News? Libby trio charged with child endangerment after search of filthy home An investigation by the Northwest Montana Drug Task Force, FBI and the Flathead County Sheriff's Office has left a local woman behind bars facing federal drug charges. Drug trafficking affects everyone in our community, directly or indirectly families, children, businesses, the court system, law enforcement, corrections, first responders, schools, hospital. Sheriff Custer County Montana Create a Website Account - Manage notification subscriptions, save form progress and more. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. LockA locked padlock 66121 MT Hwy 37 ", Montana AG: 'I would absolutely advocate for cartels to be designated terrorist orgs' | CUOMOwww.youtube.com. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. While still being the secondary drug of choice behind marijuana, cocaine appeared to have diminished considerably in popularity. A locked padlock 162 0 obj <> endobj Q: Can I make a report about possible drug activity and not identify myself?Yes. On the demand side, you have the addicts, the drive, the desire or the need for the drug. Man gets 11 years for trafficking meth, fentanyl to Montana Detectives are the department liaisons for Driving Under the Influence Court, Adult Protection Team (APT) meetings, Child Protection Team (CPT), Flathead County Childrens Advocacy Center (CAC) and Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT). RAPID CITY, S.D. According to a media release from Butte-Silver Bow Sheriff Ed Lester, the standoff was sparked after officers attempted to serve a search warrant. He says that trafficker has started to manufacture a combination of multiple switches only activated in sequence to trigger a drug compartment to open. 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. Patrick O'Leary and Toni Krause-Velasquez of Martin . 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. Sheriff identifies man found dead following Butte standoff For added context, the state crime lab reported just four fentanyl overdose deaths in 2017. Construction Projects. Their mission is to identify, disrupt, and dismantle local, regional, and international DTO operations using Local, State, and . If this vehicle was pulled over and there is a roadside search, if an officer is going through quickly, not taking his time, he would probably likely miss this, said Wooley. Drug task force warrant sparked 30-hour Butte standoff Wooley revealed to MTN, the way traffickers do it, by creating closed-off compartments in an ordinary vehicle, as a way to hide drugs. "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. Q: If I make a report about drug activity, will my identity be protected?Members of the task force will make every effort possible to protect the identity of complainants and concerned citizens. In the early morning of October 13, Lewis and Clark SWAT arrived on the scene. In 2016, the Northwest . Its supply and demand, said Wooley. Billings has always had a pretty healthy appetite for meth.. The City/County Special Investigations Unit is comprised of detectives and patrol officers/deputies from both the Billings Police Department and the Yellowstone County Sheriffs Office. "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. This was apparent in both cocaine- related arrests and cocaine removal statistics. Man accused of suspicion of trafficking fentanyl in Kalispell Arrest records were electronically extracted from the Illinois State Police Criminal History Record Information System. I do think that our problem here in Billings is much worse, said Wooley. Investigation of the drug trafficking organization began in September of 2013, when law enforcement agents with the FBI and Eastern Montana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force (HIDTA . But those efforts can only do so much to protect Montanans as long as the Biden administration's lax policies continue to unleash havoc along the U.S. - Mexico border while turning all states into "border states" that now face an influx of drugs and crime. 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. And then you have more distribution at the local levels. 17 July, 2018. - Manage notification subscriptions, save form progress and more. 2022 Blaze Media LLC. Great Falls Crime Task Force. Montana has four (4) major drug trafficking corridors: I-15 that runs north to the Canadian border and south to Idaho; I-90 that runs west to Idaho and east to Hardin, then south to Wyoming; I-94 that runs west to I-90 at Billings and east to North Dakota; and Highway 2 which runs west to Idaho and east to North Dakota along the northern tier of 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. Additional information on task force operations is appended. 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. Lincoln County Unite for YouthUnite for Youth is focused on a community-based approach to education and prevention of youth drug and alcohol abuse. Participating state and local task force officers are deputized to perform the same functions as DEA special agents. Gallatin County, Montana311 West Main StreetBozeman, MT 59715Website Information, Website DisclaimerGovernment Websites by CivicPlus, Gallatin Solid Waste Mgmt. Task force seizures of fentanyl spike in Montana - TheBlaze The. 2, City of Kalispell201 1st Avenue EastKalispell, MT 59901, Mailing AddressP.O. Shawback was also a member. A lock ( Eureka, MT 59917 We use cookies to better understand website visitors, for advertising, and to offer you a better experience. Drug Bust In St Paul Mn 201916 pounds of heroin and fentanyl, 2 Flathead woman faces federal drug trafficking charges endstream endobj 163 0 obj <>/Metadata 16 0 R/Pages 160 0 R/StructTreeRoot 26 0 R/Type/Catalog/ViewerPreferences 181 0 R>> endobj 164 0 obj <>/MediaBox[0 0 612 792]/Parent 160 0 R/Resources<>/Font<>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text/ImageB/ImageC/ImageI]/XObject<>>>/Rotate 0/StructParents 0/Tabs/S/Type/Page>> endobj 165 0 obj <>stream Rocky Mountain High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area task forces seized well over three times as much fentanyl in 2022 as in 2021, but the 2022 figure is up nearly 11,000% from the 2019 level, according to a press release from the Montana attorney general. The Eastern Montana High-Intensity Drug Task Force. This is an ongoing investigation and we will provide updates as information becomes available. "Drug Enforcement Agency, 17 July, 2018, https://www.dea.gov/operations/state-and-local-task-forces Accessed 3 March, 2023. The chemical compounds that they make and that they use south of the border are still very similar but maybe a little bit more sophisticated.. Monday, January 31st 2022 Sources confirm head of Northwest Drug Task Force under investigation MISSOULA, Mont. Free South Dakota Warrant Search. At a Billings towing yard, he points out what looks like an ordinary passenger car, except thats it not. 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 Privacy Policy. 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. Screenshot taken from video on NewsNation YouTube channel. 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. The more aware you are of the influences around you, the better prepared you will be to face them, including the pressure to use drugs and alcohol. In 2021, 60,577 dosage units were seized. Sale and distribution arrests decreased while misdemeanor arrests increased, indicating the goals to target street-level dealers and to increase pressure on users in order to reduce the demand for drugs were working. What's more, AG Knudsen said the amount of fentanyl seized in Montana in 2022 was three times what was seized in 2021 and instances where firearms are seized along with fentanyl shipments has also been increasing. The Detectives Division is comprised of one captain, one Senior Sergeant, three detectives, four School Resource Officers, one detective assigned to the Northwest Montana Drug Task Force and one Evidence Technician / Administrative Assistant (non-sworn). This collaborative group, housed under the . Official websites use .gov The first thing that kind of popped out in this situation was a trunk release switch underneath the seat padding, thats not normally there.. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration describes it as "a highly addictive man-made opioid," and says that two milligrams of it is considered a possibly lethal dose. The Narcotics Task Force can be contacted by phone at 435-743-5302. Fees $50 for each party needing served. Today, hes moved on from that position and is able to speak candidly and openly about the drug scene in Billings. Sources confirm head of Northwest Drug Task Force under - KECI While investigators with the Northwest Montana Drug Task Force had long had their eyes on Eby, a late night fight in a local trailer park led to his arrest. Montana Task Force Announces 10,800% Increase in Fentanyl Seizures Drug Unit (CCSIU/HIDTA) | City of Billings, MT - Official Website Date: 03-03-2023 Case Style: United States of America v. Dallas Michael Acoff, a/k/a "Dal" Case Number: 5:22-cr-00013 Judge: John Preston Bailey Court: United States District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia (Wheeling County) Plaintiff's Attorney: United States Attorney's Office in Wheeling Defendant's Attorney: table> Click Here to Watch How To Find A Lawyer by Kent Morlan Butte Police and Butte SWAT responded to the scene to assist in containing the situation. Former meth users interviewed for state report This poison is killing Montanans," Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen said, according to the press release. All fees must accompany papers before service. This includes patrolmen, detectives, administrators, corrections, state wildlife officers, state land officers, highway patrol, and federal agents from all branches. Logan Shawback, who works with the Northwest Montana Drug Task Force. Drug Enforcement Agency on DEA website. On October 12 at approximately noon, officers attempted to serve a search warrant to the residence. Established in 1973, this anti-drug agency combined the Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs (BNDD) and Customs drug agents to provide exclusive enforcement of federal drug laws. A viewer tipped us to an investigation involving a Flathead County sheriff's. An investigation by the Northwest Montana Drug Task Force, FBI and the Flathead County Sheriff's Office has left a local woman behind bars facing federal drug charges. The best way to think of the drug problem and after my years over at the task force, it really is pretty simple and its based off of a business model. However, along with that, comes the crime. You have the traffickers to get it to place, he said. An official website of the United States government. Missouri River Drug Task Force | Gallatin County, MT ICJIA | Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way. Now the supply comes directly from Mexico and drug cartels who see an increasing demand for meth in northern states like Montana. Because Montana had no historical data with which to compare current statistics, it was necessary to develop task force data over a period of time between 1987 and 1992 in order to do an evaluation. PDF Montana - Regional Information Sharing Systems The officers also had a felony extraditable arrest warrant for a 36-year-old man living at the residence. Montana Federal Marijuana Indictments Announced Federal Task Force Partnerships - Billings, Montana Since that time, the Task Force has worked to reduce the prevalence and consequences of prescription drug and opioid misuse. Jason Ralph Eby, 46, pleaded not guilty to criminal endangerment and two counts of criminal possession of dangerous drugs, all felonies, in Lincoln County District Court on July 19. 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. 180 0 obj <>/Filter/FlateDecode/ID[<1BDB5995F6E9494FA12F520EBB498918>]/Index[162 47]/Info 161 0 R/Length 94/Prev 352267/Root 163 0 R/Size 209/Type/XRef/W[1 3 1]>>stream The Eastern Montana Drug Task Force prioritizes cases involving drug endangered children above all other criminal investigations. Residents are encouraged to be prepared for emergencies. Billings serves as the host agency for HIDTA ,but its a multi-jurisdictional task force composed of local officers from city, county and federal organizations such as the FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and Homeland Security. There, police assisted the Southwest Montana Drug Task Force in carrying out a search warrant on James Starcevich, 23. Our geographical location, said Wooley. Detective Division | Kalispell, MT 208 0 obj <>stream 1, Administration, Detectives, or Records: 406-758-7780, ext. Terms under which this service is provided to you. All rights reserved. United States of America v. Dallas Michael Acoff, a/k/a "Dal" 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.