W.Va. Task Forces Recognized For Drug Seizures, Prosecutions

Nine drug task forces in West Virginia have seized more than 60 kilograms of illegal drugs in the state over the past year. 

Twenty-seven kilograms of fentanyl, 22 kilograms of methamphetamine, and 13 kilograms of cocaine. All seized as a part of Operation Take Back America.

Acting US Attorney Randolph Bernard for the Northern District of West Virginia (NDWV) highlighted the successes this week.

He noted the Trump administration has tasked law enforcement with combatting drug cartels, reducing violent crime and ending illegal immigration. 

“It is a moral imperative that we strive to enhance the quality of life in all communities caught in the crossfire,” Bernard said. “The results we have seen from the task forces within the NDWV prove those efforts have been effective.”

The nine task forces encompass most of the state, from the Ohio Valley and the Eastern Panhandle to the Potomac Highlands. Eight of them were funded by the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas initiative (HIDTA).

The operation has also led to lengthy sentences for multiple high-level dealers providing illegal drugs in the state. One case netted nearly 9,000 fentanyl pills, another almost three pounds of crystal methamphetamine.