Missoula HIDTA Seized 51 Pounds of Meth and 12,749 Fentanyl Pills

Missoula, MT (KGVO-AM News) - On February 14, 2023, the Missoula Police Department reported that the Missoula High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force announced its statistics for the fourth quarter of 2022. Police Public Information Officer Whitney Bennett explains.

“The Missoula HIDTA, a federal program dedicated to reducing drug trafficking and its harmful effects, has released the results of its ongoing efforts to combat drug trafficking in the region,” Bennett said. “Missoula HIDTA has been working closely with law enforcement agencies to identify and investigate drug trafficking organizations and their networks, and to target the sources of drug supply in the area.”

According to Bennett, the data shows an increase in the number of successful investigations and prosecutions, as well as a decrease in the availability of drugs in the region.

Get our free mobile app

“Missoula HIDTA has been working tirelessly to disrupt drug trafficking operations and to prevent drug-related crimes from occurring,” Bennett said. “The fourth quarter statistics demonstrate the effectiveness of Missoula HIDTA’s ongoing efforts to combat drug trafficking and its harmful effects on our communities. Missoula HIDTA remains committed to working with local law enforcement agencies to ensure the safety and well-being of our citizens.”

Here are the stats for the fourth quarter of 2022:

20 felony arrests
537 grams of meth seized
69 grams of cocaine seized
5,744 dosage units of fentanyl & 164 grams of fentanyl powder seized
20 firearms seized

For all of 2022, Missoula Drug Task Force had the following successes (drug amounts are approximate):

76 felony arrests
51 pounds of meth seized
5 pounds of cocaine seized
2.5 pounds of heroin seized
12,749 dosage units of fentanyl & 1.3 pounds of powder fentanyl seized
78 firearms seized

Bennett said Missoula HIDTA partnered with the Mineral County Sheriff’s Office, Ravalli County Sheriff’s Office, Montana Highway Patrol, Montana Probation and Parole, the DEA’s Tactical Diversion Squad, the FBI, and other agencies during several investigations to produce many of these results.