Over 550 pounds of fentanyl seized across Virginia in a month and a half
RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- Over 550 pounds of fentanyl were seized across Virginia over a 45-day period through the efforts of Operation FREE (Fentanyl Awareness, Reduction, Enforcement and Eradication), according to the Office of Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R). On Thursday, Nov. 7, Youngkin announced the results of the operation, which was developed following his fentanyl-focused Executive Order 26. According to his office, over 19,000 pounds of narcotics were seized, 1,081 people were arrested and 267 firearms were confiscated in the 45 days prior to Nov. 7. The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) reports that, in 2022, nearly 2,500 Virginians died as a result of a fentanyl overdose. Of all drug overdose deaths in the state that year, fentanyl, its analogs and tramadol were involved in nearly 8 out of 10. “We worked very hard during the operation to enhance education focused on the dangers of fentanyl — stressing that ‘It Only Takes One’ pill to take a life and one important conversation to save a life," said first lady of Virginia Suzanne Youngkin. Operation FREE consists of a partnership between over 175 local, state and federal agencies across 13 states. In Virginia, it is carried out by the Department of Public Safety and Homeland Security, led by Virginia State Police (VSP). 8News reached out to VSP to learn more about Operation FREE and what it looked like in practice these past 45 days. A state police spokesperson explained that each of the four letters in "FREE" explains a part of the program: "Fentanyl Awareness" or fentanyl recognition: "Identification of fentanyl when seized, found, discovered, etc. and appropriate and safe response to it by first responders (law enforcement, fire, emergency medical services) and the public," the spokesperson said. "This is best done through education and awareness campaigns internally within these government entities, but most importantly to the public." "Reduction" of fentanyl's supply and demand: "Seize and destroy as much fentanyl from our communities and the Commonwealth as possible, and develop, offer, deliver and follow-up with programs and services to help those addicted to fentanyl to not use, thus reducing the demand." "Enforcement" of Virginia Code and federal law: "[This] covers those obviously directed at fentanyl, but also those less known to the public (importation into the Commonwealth, mixtures containing fentanyl, etc.)," the spokesperson said. "The enforcement is aimed at those involved in the criminal importation, distribution (in ideally large quantities because of greater benefit to communities) and those manufacturing mixtures containing fentanyl (cocaine mixed with fentanyl or methamphetamine mixed with fentanyl, etc.)." "Eradication" from the state of Virginia: "This the absolute elimination of fentanyl from the Commonwealth in whatever form it may be found," the spokesperson said. "Eradication is possible because fentanyl is not a naturally occurring substance and we know from the investigative efforts of VSP and its local, state, and federal partners that it is not manufactured here. The spokesperson said that Operation FREE, in practice, consisted of working with partners on all levels -- from law enforcement to social services to community groups -- to both increase enforcement and provide educational resources. Those involved with Operation FREE "made robust efforts to identify, investigate and arrest the criminal offenders engaged in the importation, distribution, and manufacturing mixtures containing fentanyl, and those conspiring with and benefiting from the same," the spokesperson said. "VSP has bolstered the drug enforcement operations across the Commonwealth through the greater engagement with our local, state and federal partners, evaluation and leveraging of individual agency resources in innovative ways to support enforcement and education to first responders and the public, and incorporation of new technologies to recognize and identify drugs to ensure the safety of the public and first responders," the spokesperson said. Regarding educational efforts, the spokesperson explained that this meant engaging with the community in both traditional and non-traditional ways through media, as well as in-person, to spread information about fentanyl. VSP also engaged in outreach through community groups, helping community leadership educate citizens on the dangers of fentanyl in everyday settings. "[Operation FREE is] a reminder that when we work together, we can make our communities and homeland more secure," said Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security Terry Cole. "I’m happy to see that Virginia and these United States are one step closer in our fight to eliminate the deadly impacts of fentanyl.”
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RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- Over 550 pounds of fentanyl were seized across Virginia over a 45-day period through the efforts of Operation FREE (Fentanyl Awareness, Reduction, Enforcement and Eradication), according to the Office of Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R).
On Thursday, Nov. 7, Youngkin announced the results of the operation, which was developed following his fentanyl-focused Executive Order 26. According to his office, over 19,000 pounds of narcotics were seized, 1,081 people were arrested and 267 firearms were confiscated in the 45 days prior to Nov. 7.
The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) reports that, in 2022, nearly 2,500 Virginians died as a result of a fentanyl overdose. Of all drug overdose deaths in the state that year, fentanyl, its analogs and tramadol were involved in nearly 8 out of 10.
“We worked very hard during the operation to enhance education focused on the dangers of fentanyl — stressing that ‘It Only Takes One’ pill to take a life and one important conversation to save a life," said first lady of Virginia Suzanne Youngkin.
Operation FREE consists of a partnership between over 175 local, state and federal agencies across 13 states. In Virginia, it is carried out by the Department of Public Safety and Homeland Security, led by Virginia State Police (VSP).
8News reached out to VSP to learn more about Operation FREE and what it looked like in practice these past 45 days. A state police spokesperson explained that each of the four letters in "FREE" explains a part of the program:
- "Fentanyl Awareness" or fentanyl recognition: "Identification of fentanyl when seized, found, discovered, etc. and appropriate and safe response to it by first responders (law enforcement, fire, emergency medical services) and the public," the spokesperson said. "This is best done through education and awareness campaigns internally within these government entities, but most importantly to the public."
- "Reduction" of fentanyl's supply and demand: "Seize and destroy as much fentanyl from our communities and the Commonwealth as possible, and develop, offer, deliver and follow-up with programs and services to help those addicted to fentanyl to not use, thus reducing the demand."
- "Enforcement" of Virginia Code and federal law: "[This] covers those obviously directed at fentanyl, but also those less known to the public (importation into the Commonwealth, mixtures containing fentanyl, etc.)," the spokesperson said. "The enforcement is aimed at those involved in the criminal importation, distribution (in ideally large quantities because of greater benefit to communities) and those manufacturing mixtures containing fentanyl (cocaine mixed with fentanyl or methamphetamine mixed with fentanyl, etc.)."
- "Eradication" from the state of Virginia: "This the absolute elimination of fentanyl from the Commonwealth in whatever form it may be found," the spokesperson said. "Eradication is possible because fentanyl is not a naturally occurring substance and we know from the investigative efforts of VSP and its local, state, and federal partners that it is not manufactured here.
The spokesperson said that Operation FREE, in practice, consisted of working with partners on all levels -- from law enforcement to social services to community groups -- to both increase enforcement and provide educational resources.
Those involved with Operation FREE "made robust efforts to identify, investigate and arrest the criminal offenders engaged in the importation, distribution, and manufacturing mixtures containing fentanyl, and those conspiring with and benefiting from the same," the spokesperson said.
"VSP has bolstered the drug enforcement operations across the Commonwealth through the greater engagement with our local, state and federal partners, evaluation and leveraging of individual agency resources in innovative ways to support enforcement and education to first responders and the public, and incorporation of new technologies to recognize and identify drugs to ensure the safety of the public and first responders," the spokesperson said.
Regarding educational efforts, the spokesperson explained that this meant engaging with the community in both traditional and non-traditional ways through media, as well as in-person, to spread information about fentanyl. VSP also engaged in outreach through community groups, helping community leadership educate citizens on the dangers of fentanyl in everyday settings.
"[Operation FREE is] a reminder that when we work together, we can make our communities and homeland more secure," said Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security Terry Cole. "I’m happy to see that Virginia and these United States are one step closer in our fight to eliminate the deadly impacts of fentanyl.”
