Sheriff: multi-county drug task force reports large meth seizures, warns of growing unregulated THC market

Sheriff Eric Tolleson updated the Kandiyoi County Board on the C6 drug and gang task force's activity and budgeting concerns on Aug. 5, reporting substantial seizures and urging continued county support for the multi-county unit.

Tolleson said the task force, which serves Kandiyoi, Meeker, Chippewa, Swift and Yellow Medicine counties and includes seven agents, made 186 arrests in the past six months. He reported seizures including about $11,000 in cash, about 56 methamphetamine seizures totaling "a little over 700 pounds," 86 pounds of marijuana, 153 searches, 17 child removals and 46 firearms seized in the same period.

Ross Ardoff, commander of the C6 task force, and agent Josiah Puckett joined Tolleson at the board to describe operational trends. Puckett told commissioners that cannabis legalization has produced a large, unregulated illegal market in high-potency THC products and unlicensed home grows, which are complicated to regulate alongside the task force's ongoing meth and fentanyl work.

Tolleson said operating costs for the task force have risen about 42% over the past 10 years, while forfeiture revenue has declined because of changes in forfeiture rules; he said grant funding to the task force has been nearly stagnant in the last five years. He reported the task force had considered reducing staff but that participating counties adjusted reimbursements and per-capita contributions to maintain current staffing.

Why it matters: Tolleson and the task force leaders framed the unit as essential to disrupting violent and drug-related crime across the service area and asked the board to consider budget continuity as part of wider advocacy efforts with state and federal partners.

No board action was requested; the presentation was received for information.