Troopers across Pennsylvania seized more than $43 million in illicit drugs in 2019, according to state police.
That figure includes almost 300 pounds of heroin and fentanyl, both of which have caused thousands of drug overdose deaths locally and nationally. Last year saw an increase in seizures of those two drugs from 2018, when troopers confiscated nearly 200 pounds of heroin and fentanyl, police said.
Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid more powerful than heroin, has contributed to an explosion of drug overdose deaths in the region for several years.
Drug overdose deaths in Westmoreland County involving fentanyl increased by 364% from 2015 to 2016, according to a coroner’s report. The drug contributed to 367 deaths in Westmoreland from Jan. 1, 2016, to July 1, 2019. Preliminary figures for 2019 show fentanyl contributed to 72 deaths.
Fentanyl has been the top contributor to drug overdose deaths in Allegheny County since 2016, according to medical examiner statistics. From 2016 to 2018, fentanyl contributed to 1,287 deaths there. Preliminary figures for 2019 show fentanyl contributed to 186 drug overdose deaths in Allegheny County.
Troopers seized $8.7 million in illicit drugs during the last three months of 2019, including:
• 80 pounds of cocaine, valued at $1.7 million.
• 43 pounds of heroin, valued at $1.5 million.
• 60 pounds of fentanyl, valued at $960,000.
• 1,016 pounds of processed marijuana, valued at $3.05 million.
• 82 pounds of methamphetamines, valued at $819,200.
