TARRANT COUNTY (WBAP/KLIF News ) – The Tarrant County District Attorneys Office created a new narcotics unit to focus on cases including fentanyl, methamphetamine, heroin, cocaine, and more.
The office said the move comes amid as the fentanyl epidemic tightens its grip on North Texas.
“If you deal fentanyl in Tarrant County, we are coming after you,” said Tarrant County District Attorney Phil Sorrells said. “Fentanyl is addictive and deadly.”
Fort Worth police records show there have been almost 2500 overdoses in Tarrant County in 2023, many caused by fentanyl.
According to Tarrant County Medical Examiner records, 300 people died from overdoses this year.
Sorrells credited the recent passing of House Bill 6 for allowing tougher penalties for anyone caught importing fentanyl in his district.
“That new law creates a charge of murder for anyone supplying fentanyl that leads to someone’s death and I plan to use that law to go after the people and organizations bringing this deadly drug into our county,” he said.
The Tarrant County DA Narcotics unit includes three experienced prosecutors who will “diligently pursue drug cases and work closely with law enforcement agencies in Tarrant County.” Sorells said his office will receive around 8,500 drug cases this year.
Fentanyl is a deadly, synthetic opioid that is cheaper to manufacture than other opioids, which is why some dealers substitute it for other substances.
It is available in many forms, including powder, pills, even liquid for nasal sprays or eye droppers. Two milligrams of fentanyl, the equivalent of a few grains of table salt, can be lethal.
It’s an issue that is being seen across Texas and nationwide.
The Texas Department of State Health Services reports overdose deaths involving fentanyl rose from 891 in 2020 to 2,189 in 2022.
According to the American Medical Association, more than 106,000 overdose deaths were reported in the United States between May 2022 and May 2023.
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