Rise in Alaska drug overdose deaths triggers increased efforts to stop drug trafficking
Officers have seized over 317 pounds of drugs traveling through the airport, including over 100 pounds of fentanyl, as of Dec. 15
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) - Law enforcement agencies across the state are working to reduce overdose deaths after seeing an increase statewide over the past year.
The High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Initiative (HIDTA) increases enforcement efforts across 22 local state and federal agencies, including the U.S. Postal Service. These organizations are working together to intercept fentanyl and other substances at the Anchorage International Airport Complex, the Department of Public Safety said.
“In 2024, our office assigned multiple attorneys to handle search warrants for U.S Postal Service parcels suspected of containing illicit substances, quadrupling the number of search warrants processed compared to last year. Because of this prioritization and our strong partnership with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Alaska State Troopers, parcel drug seizures have increased, preventing large quantities of dangerous drugs from reaching our communities,” U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker for the District of Alaska said. “We are grateful for the ongoing dedication of USPIS and the Alaska State Troopers in protecting Alaskans. Our office will continue collaborating with all investigative partners to disrupt drug trafficking through effective investigations and prosecutions.”
According to the Department of Law, as of Dec. 15, officers have seized over 317 pounds of drugs traveling through the airport including over 100 pounds of fentanyl since January 2024.
“This is evidence that law enforcement is trying to do our part to disrupt and dismantle drug trafficking that is occurring specifically through the Anchorage Airport complex (Ted Stevens International Airport),” said Austin McDaniel, the communications director for the Alaska Department of Public Safety.
He went on to say that their goal is to “zero in on what we feel is the biggest hole in Alaska’s drug interdiction strategy, and that was drugs moving through parcels and body-carry on the Anchorage airport complex...where nearly all of the mail comes into Alaska.”
“Nearly half of the illegal drugs seized by Alaska law Enforcement so far in 2024 have been at the Anchorage Airport complex, which is another reason why we’re putting so many of our resources there at the airport complex.”
According to data from the CDC, Alaska has seen the highest rate of increased overdose deaths in the country, by 40% since 2023.
“It’s not good when we’re leading the nation in the number of -- in the rate increase and overdose deaths -- compared to the rest of the country. We all have a part to play,“ McDaniel said.
Law enforcement agencies included in HIDTA are encouraging the public to report anything suspicious that could be related to drug trafficking activity to AKtips, which can be done online or through the AKtips smartphone app. Those reporting can remain anonymous.
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