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West Michigan Enforcement Team reports large fentanyl seizures and ongoing investigations in Ottawa County
Summary
Detective Lieutenant Mark Shore said his West Michigan Enforcement Team seized roughly 2,246 grams of fentanyl in 2024 in Ottawa County, described cartel‑style packaging inbound via Chicago and Texas routes, and noted investigative costs for evidence purchases and informant payments.
Detective Lieutenant Mark Shore, team leader for the West Michigan Enforcement Team in Ottawa County, briefed the board on 2024 enforcement activity. He said the team — made up of local police, county sheriff deputies and state troopers — executed 32 search warrants in 2024 and seized 2,246.3 grams of fentanyl in Ottawa County during the year, along with cocaine and crystal methamphetamine.
Shore described packaging styles and stamps that indicate cartel-related inbound shipments, reviewed costs for investigative buys (about $16,000 for evidence purchases and roughly $6,000 in informant pay), and explained that major investigations are often longer in duration and can produce significant arrests but may depress year-over-year arrest counts while yielding larger network disruptions.
Commissioners asked whether airports or highway corridors are common entry points; Shore said shipments arrive via multiple routes, including Chicago and interstate corridors, and that some shipments originate abroad and transit through Mexico before moving into the region.
No formal action was taken; the briefing served to inform commissioners about drug trends and resource demands on enforcement partners.
