Fentanyl is a potent synthetic opioid normally used for pain relief and as an anesthetic. It's 100 times more potent than morphine and 50 times more potent than heroin. But according to data shared by Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman, more people are using it.In July 2023, the Albuquerque Police Department released statistics for the time period between January and May. In that time, it saw a 154% increase in drug and narcotic offenses when compared to the same time period in 2022.The district attorney's office reported seeing a substantial increase in the relative number of drug cases involving fentanyl involving trafficking or possession. It increased by 58% in the first seven months of 2023.To view the DA's report and his ideas for a solution, click here."One of the things that we are recognizing is the use of fentanyl and the use of fentanyl along Central," said police Chief Harold Medina.On Wednesday, the department released data from a two-day operation it held along Central Avenue from San Mateo Boulevard to Wyoming Boulevard. 109 total arrests and warrants cleared47 felony and misdemeanor arrests32 arrests for possession of fentanyl62 misdemeanor and felony warrants cleared1 gun recovered10 traffic citations issuedA look at the opioid crisis: State of Addiction"We're going to focus a lot of resources on Central from San Mateo to Wyoming. It's the area that we see the most concern about," said Medina.The department told KOAT there were two significant arrests during that operation. One was related to an international drug trafficking organization."We believe that that case alone is going to have an impact on the fentanyl that's coming into our state. We're able to show that that organization was trafficking narcotics into the state directly," said Deputy Chief George Vega.The second arrest allowed officers to recover roughly 25,000 fentanyl pills. Officers also recovered 6,00 more fentanyl pills during a search warrant on a car that fled a traffic stop. Also found in the car were several firearm parts for a handgun and rifle, as well as 50 grams of cocaine."A lot of the operations that we're doing, utilizing our undercovers. I think that's one of the things that I want to share with the community is that we are working, yes, on a field level, but we also have our undercover officers working in side-by-side with our federal partners to put these cases together," said Vega.The department plans to keep this operation going in order to help stop the fentanyl crisis plaguing Albuquerque and to hopefully find the suspects help. "In a way, I hope that it puts a little strain on the system," said Medina. "I think the system needs to be a little bit of strain on how we're going to deal with these individuals and how we ultimately are going to get them the resources they need."According to the department, data shows many of the people arrested for using drugs are connected to other crimes like auto theft, property crime and burglaries, whether commercial or residential. But at the end of the day, Medina told KOAT, every entity needs to step up and do its part."I'd like to know if they're prepared for an influx of arrests and possession cases and if they have the resources to process these," said Medina. "Are there enough rehabs for all of these individuals? And I will guess if everybody's honest, it's about time everybody starts saying we don't have the resources to process every every one of these cases."According to the APD, the department makes roughly 150 felony arrests every week and will continue to do so."The Albuquerque Police Department, our officers have one function. We arrest people. We build cases for others. Outside of that, we will no longer be concerned at what the courts, the DA's office, or anybody else does with our cases," said Medina. "If these individuals are released, we will arrest them again tomorrow, and they will go before the system tomorrow again, and the system can decide what to do with them again."Stay updated on the latest news updates with the KOAT app. You can download it here.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. —
Fentanyl is a potent synthetic opioid normally used for pain relief and as an anesthetic. It's 100 times more potent than morphine and 50 times more potent than heroin.
But according to data shared by Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman, more people are using it.
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In July 2023, the Albuquerque Police Department released statistics for the time period between January and May. In that time, it saw a 154% increase in drug and narcotic offenses when compared to the same time period in 2022.
The district attorney's office reported seeing a substantial increase in the relative number of drug cases involving fentanyl involving trafficking or possession. It increased by 58% in the first seven months of 2023.
To view the DA's report and his ideas for a solution, click here.
"One of the things that we are recognizing is the use of fentanyl and the use of fentanyl along Central," said police Chief Harold Medina.
On Wednesday, the department released data from a two-day operation it held along Central Avenue from San Mateo Boulevard to Wyoming Boulevard.
- 109 total arrests and warrants cleared
- 47 felony and misdemeanor arrests
- 32 arrests for possession of fentanyl
- 62 misdemeanor and felony warrants cleared
- 1 gun recovered
- 10 traffic citations issued
A look at the opioid crisis: State of Addiction
"We're going to focus a lot of resources on Central from San Mateo to Wyoming. It's the area that we see the most concern about," said Medina.
The department told KOAT there were two significant arrests during that operation. One was related to an international drug trafficking organization.
"We believe that that case alone is going to have an impact on the fentanyl that's coming into our state. We're able to show that that organization was trafficking narcotics into the state directly," said Deputy Chief George Vega.
The second arrest allowed officers to recover roughly 25,000 fentanyl pills.
Officers also recovered 6,00 more fentanyl pills during a search warrant on a car that fled a traffic stop. Also found in the car were several firearm parts for a handgun and rifle, as well as 50 grams of cocaine.
"A lot of the operations that we're doing, utilizing our undercovers. I think that's one of the things that I want to share with the community is that we are working, yes, on a field level, but we also have our undercover officers working in side-by-side with our federal partners to put these cases together," said Vega.
The department plans to keep this operation going in order to help stop the fentanyl crisis plaguing Albuquerque and to hopefully find the suspects help.
"In a way, I hope that it puts a little strain on the system," said Medina. "I think the system needs to be a little bit of strain on how we're going to deal with these individuals and how we ultimately are going to get them the resources they need."
According to the department, data shows many of the people arrested for using drugs are connected to other crimes like auto theft, property crime and burglaries, whether commercial or residential.
But at the end of the day, Medina told KOAT, every entity needs to step up and do its part.
"I'd like to know if they're prepared for an influx of arrests and possession cases and if they have the resources to process these," said Medina. "Are there enough rehabs for all of these individuals? And I will guess if everybody's honest, it's about time everybody starts saying we don't have the resources to process every every one of these cases."
According to the APD, the department makes roughly 150 felony arrests every week and will continue to do so.
"The Albuquerque Police Department, our officers have one function. We arrest people. We build cases for others. Outside of that, we will no longer be concerned at what the courts, the DA's office, or anybody else does with our cases," said Medina. "If these individuals are released, we will arrest them again tomorrow, and they will go before the system tomorrow again, and the system can decide what to do with them again."
Stay updated on the latest news updates with the KOAT app. You can download it here.
