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Undercover narcotics team warns of rising meth and large seizures in northern Michigan area
Summary
Detective Lieutenant Ray Rolette told Alpena council the area is seeing a surge in methamphetamine and significant seizures of cocaine and crack, describing multi‑jurisdictional investigations that recovered near‑kilogram quantities and weapons; the team urged continued local support for enforcement and training.
Detective Lieutenant Ray Rolette presented the 2025 annual report of the Undercover Narcotics Team to Alpena City Council on April 20, 2026, warning that methamphetamine — particularly Mexican‑sourced crystal meth — is the dominant drug threat in the team’s multi‑county area. Rolette said seizures have grown substantially in recent years and noted disturbing increases in quantities of cocaine and crack arriving in the region.
Rolette described multi‑jurisdictional operations with neighboring counties and Michigan State Police that seized substantial quantities of methamphetamine and kilograms of cocaine, and that resulted in prosecutions with lengthy potential sentences. He also described ancillary criminal activity tied to trafficking — firearms seizures, stolen property recoveries and raids that disrupted trafficking networks — and emphasized the team’s training and community outreach role.
"Our area of operation is under siege by the scourge of meth, fentanyl, crack and cocaine," Rolette told council, adding that removing traffickers prevents related crimes such as burglaries and assaults. He thanked the council for financial support and said the team’s regional cooperation and training partnerships are critical to keeping the problem in check.
Council received and filed the report; no formal action was required. Rolette encouraged schools, first responders and civic groups to request presentations on drug trends and prevention strategies.
