Drug Task Force agents seize pound of fentanyl compound, 8lbs of meth

INTERDICTION EFFORTS SEIZE DANGEROUS DRUGS IN MEMPHIS

SHELBY COUNTY, TENN. – Drug Task Force Director Johnie Carter says his Agents seized one pound of the deadly drug, fluorofentanyl, and eight pounds of methamphetamine Tuesday during an interdiction operation.

On December 9th, Agents with the West Tennessee Violent Crime and Drug Task Force’s CriminalInterdiction Unit were working a special assignment at an undisclosed location in Memphis where they seized the illicit substances.

Director Carter says that, “Fluorofentanyl is a synthetic compound of fentanyl and is created through the addition of another atom to the chemical structure. It is approximately 50 to 100 times stronger than morphine and much more potent than regular fentanyl because fluorofentanyl breaks down in the body to yet another chemical that is dissolved much easier in the body’s fat allowing it to cross the blood brain barrier much quicker and at greater quantities than regular fentanyl can.” He also added that while naloxone is effective in reversing an overdose of fluorofentanyl, it usually requires many more doses than what regular fentanyl requires to reverse the effects and is one of the top contributors in overdose deaths.

“Fentanyl is poison. It leads to more overdoses than any other drug, and is often mixed in with other drugs, so people don’t even know they’re taking it,” said DA Mulroy. “And fluorofentanyl’s even more deadly. This is yet another success by our DTF agents, who are working in Memphis’ highest crime areas, under our VCIF grant from the State, to keep people safe.”

This investigation was funded in part by Govenor Lee’s Violent Crime Initiative Fund (VCIF) grant and remains under investigation. No further details are being released at this time.

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