NSP seizes record amounts of Fentanyl, THC products & hashish in 2018

The illegal drug trade adds up in Nebraska.

State troopers say they’ve never seen so much volume.

The heavy drug traffic includes Fentanyl, the powerful opioid the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention just named the deadliest drug in the country.

KETV NewsWatch 7 got exclusive access to see the confiscated drugs.

NSP said criminals are using Interstate 80, even buses and trains, to transport drugs through Nebraska.

So far, troopers have made more than 330 stops in 2018, resulting in historic seizures.

“The majority of it is being passed through to different areas,” said Trooper Mark Kinney of Troop A in Omaha.

Kinney said troopers confiscated 136 pounds of Fentanyl, which includes an April stop near Kearney that brought in 118 pounds — enough to kill 26 million people according to the Druf Enforcement Administration.

The potential dangers have resulted in troopers carrying Narcan, which can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose.

Historic numbers for NSP also include more than 1,700 pounds of THC products and 131 pounds of hashish, a potent form of cannabis.

Troopers said they also seized 43 pounds of heroin and 185 pounds of meth, which are the most in at least a decade.

As for marijuana, troopers seized 8,100 pounds, which is three times the amount seen in 2017.

Kinney said while traffic safety is still priority, there’s a stronger focus on stopping illegal substances through training and K9 assistance.

NSP hopes seizing such large amounts will help put drug dealers out of business.

Troopers work with the DEA to safely dispose of seized drugs but cannot do so until each case is closed, including any possible appeals or warrants. Some cases could take decades.

KETV NewsWatch 7 also checked in with the Omaha Treatment Center near 114th and L, which currently helps about 200 people addicted to opiates.

Sheila Kennedy, program director, said she’s not surprised to hear about the recent record volume of drug seizures since more people are abusing higher dosages.

“It’s an epidemic,” said Kennedy. “It’s attacking people’s families. We see it every day. We’ve seen a steady increase in our patient caseloads.”

Kennedy also said the center offers financial assistance.

For more information on how to get help at Omaha Treatment Center, visit its website.

KETV also has additional resources here.

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