Group 6 Narcotics Enforcement Unit has been in continuous operation for over 20 years conducting drug/illegal activity enforcement and striving to make area communities safer. The 9th East Judicial District Drug Task Force serves the Arkansas counties of Grant (Sheridan), Hot Spring (Malvern) and Clark (Arkadelphia).
Throughout 2023 Group 6 opened 310 new cases and closed 237 cases with arrests. Weapons seized numbered 47, 16 of which had been reported stolen, and four stolen vehicles were recovered within the year, the agency reported.
Drugs seized included 3.1 pounds of methamphetamine, 34.8 pounds of cocaine, 16.2 pounds of marijuana, over 25 pounds of K2, 4.4 pounds of kratom, 12 grams of crack, 119 doses of ecstasy, one dose of LSD, and several pounds of illegally possessed THC products.
Concern over the opioid crises continues, and those seizures included 433 controlled prescription pills, 201 of which were opioids, 49 grams of fentanyl, 70 grams of heroin and 28 grams of Protonitazene. Fentanyl and Protonitazene are powerful synthetic drugs that are much more powerful than heroin, and the amounts seized could have potentially caused 66,000 overdoses.
The task force continues to encounter new, more powerful substances and recently obtained through grant funds a drug identification laser system to more quickly and safely identify deadly narcotics. Certain drugs such as fentanyl can lead to an overdose within seconds of exposure through breathing or skin contact.
“Despite having only three agents for the majority of 2023, the task force is once again fully staffed and looking forward to serving our communities for another year,” the agency said. “We sincerely thank you all for your continued support of law enforcement.”
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