Police made a huge drug bust in Chamberlain on Tuesday (June 13). Officials say more work is needed to stay ahead of illegal narcotics.

Attorney General Marty Jackley details the amount of fentanyl seized in the case and knows additional work lies ahead.

“We’ve seized over 20,000 fentanyl pills. It has a tremendous street value of at least $500,000. Law enforcement did an excellent job of stopping it at the front end, but you’re still going to have that black market out there. We plan on enforcing our laws when it comes to the use of these types of pills and controlled substances.”

One officer had to be treated for exposure to the drug during the operation which Jackley says underscores the need to strictly regulate fentanyl.

“It creates many challenges for individuals that come in contact with these substances. That’s why pursuant to the FDA they are (considered) controlled in the first place. Many of these prescription drugs or opioids have a legitimate purpose in society, but they need to be handled carefully by your physician and pharmacist.”

Jackley has seen on a national level that that where there are large amounts of fentanyl many times the drug is added to heroin. For now, it’s difficult to ascertain the final destination of these pills. Because the investigation is still ongoing, Jackley also declined to compare this drug bust in size to previous seizures of narcotics in the state.

Trevor Harden, a 19-year old from Chamberlain faces one count of possession of a controlled substance (fentanyl) with intent to distribute. Assisting in the investigation were the Chamberlain Police Department, Safe Trails Drug Task Force and the Division of Criminal Investigation.


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