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Police chief outlines drug task force seizures, says regional fentanyl shipments are increasing
Summary
Chief of Police reported on West Metro/Southwest Metro combined drug task force results, including state funding, arrests and large drug seizures. He said state funds stabilized task force funding and federal partners have expanded resources for investigations.
Police Chief provided the council with a year-to-date report on the combined West Metro/Southwest Metro drug task force and said Minnetrista benefits from the regional partnership and recent state funding.
Chiefreport: the chief told the council the task force secured $300,000 in state funds last year and that consolidating neighboring task forces improved funding stability after forfeiture revenue declined. He said the combined group produced significant enforcement results in 2024: 242 arrests, 308 search warrants, 72 illegal firearms seized, 137 state charges and six federal indictments. Large quantities of illicit drugs were seized across the task force: about 185 pounds of illegal marijuana, 148 pounds of methamphetamine, 71 pounds of illegal oils/waxes, 30 pounds of illegal vape cartridges, 25 pounds of cocaine, roughly 4.4 pounds of fentanyl powder, and more than 28,000 fentanyl pills. The chief also listed quantities in smaller units (grams) for LSD, crack cocaine and other substances.
Federal partnership and regional context: the chief said federal partners (including the DEA and more recently the ATF) now participate with local task-force efforts, bringing investigative resources and stiffer federal charges for larger shipments. He warned the council that Minneapolis has become a major hub for large illegal shipments that then filter out to surrounding communities, increasing the local presence of dangerous substances laced with fentanyl.
Funding and staffing: the chief said the state grant mechanism and the task force's productivity will likely secure continued or increased state funding. Minnetrista currently contributes one assigned officer to the task force; the chief said that level is appropriate for now but could change if the task force's footprint or caseload grows.
Council questions: council members asked whether seizures were occurring locally and about prosecution outcomes. The chief said large seizures are regional but that Minnetrista has experienced overdose deaths; he said the task force and federal partners improve the chances of sustained prosecution for large-scale suppliers.
No formal council action was taken; the item was an informational staff report. The council thanked the chief for the update.
