DEA: Fentanyl is a Threat to Health and Public Safety

drugsThe Drug Enforcement Agency has issued a nationwide alert on fentanyl as a threat to health and public safety.

According to the DEA, Fentanyl can be laced with heroin and when produced in clandestine labs can have an effect 100 times more powerful than morphine and 30 to 50 times more powerful than heroin. Drug incidents and overdoses related to fentanyl are occurring and the DEA is warning the general public that Fentanyl can be absorbed through the skin and an accidental inhalation of airborne powder could occur.

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LaPorte Man Arrested For Possession of Cocaine

 

Decarlo Knighten
Decarlo Knighten

A LaPorte man is jailed on a $100,000 bond accused of dealing in cocaine. Decarlo Knighten, 35, was taken into custody without incident at his State Street home Monday by officers from the La Porte County Metro Operations Unit and United States Drug Enforcement Administration. They obtained arrest and search warrants for his home following an ongoing investigation into the sale and distribution of narcotics in the LaPorte area.

LaPorte County Drug Bust Leads to Two Arrests

Two individuals have been arrested in connection with the seizure of a significant amount of drugs, guns and cash from a home in the 5600 East block of Nappanee Trail in the community of Saugany Lake in LaPorte County.

More than 100 pounds of marijuana, approximately 5.5 grams of suspected cocaine, and 1.5 grams of suspected methamphetamine were found Sept. 21 after a search warrant was conducted by the LaPorte County Metro Operations Units, the DEA, and Elkhart County Interdiction and Covert Enforcement team. Three handguns were confiscated along with $144,628 in cash. One of the handguns was reported stolen in Michigan.

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DEA, State Police To Partner In Prescription Drug Take Back

The DEA and the Indiana State Police are partnering in an effort to prevent prescription drug abuse and theft in a program entitled “Prescription Drug Take Back.”

This event allows everyone to drop off any expired, unused, or unwanted prescription drugs at an Indiana State Police Post on Saturday, Sept. 29 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. local time. This is a free and anonymous service with no questions asked. This program is intended for liquid and pill medications only; no new or used needles will be accepted.

The Starke County Sheriff’s Department is taking unwanted prescriptions this week through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Prescription medication will also be taken Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon at the sheriff’s department. Sheriff Oscar Cowen asks that you be diligent in taking part in this program to help eradicate the abuse of prescription drugs.

1500 Pounds of Medications Collected During Take Back Initiative

The Indiana State Police and the Starke County Sheriff’s Department recently participated in a drug take back initiative, sponsored by the Drug Enforcement Administration.

Statewide, police collected more than 1500 pounds of unused or expired medications. The DEA collected 21 pounds of prescription medication from the Starke County Sheriff’s Department, and the Bremen Post collected 150 pounds of medication.

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