‘It’s a silent killer’: A closer look at the fight against fentanyl trafficking

NEXSTAR ( KTAB/KRBC ) – With the growing threat of fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opioid affecting communities nationwide, many have suffered from the deadly epidemic. New laws imposing harsher penalties for those involved with the drug are part of broader efforts to combat the destruction it has caused. On the front lines of this fight are law enforcement officers, and KTAB/KRBC-TV’s Tobin Smith had the opportunity to ride along in their efforts against fentanyl.

Rural Texas roads serve as a major thoroughfare for traffickers looking to avoid law enforcement on I-20. Chief Dan Graziose of the Anson, Texas Police Department explained how technological advancements have helped them deal with fentanyl.

“We’ve received intelligence which indicates that there’s heroin, fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine, and marijuana traveling north and south on Highway 277, also 180 runs east and west. We understand that they’re using 180 as well,” said Graziose adding that searching for Fentanyl in vehicles is aided by technology and can be dangerous, so caution must be taken.

“Just the way we search cars has changed since fentanyl has really become prevalent. The city of Anson has put a lot of technology into our patrol division,” Graziose shared. “On average, we’re reading anywhere from 3,300 plates to 10,000 plates a day, and they can be entered by Border Patrol. They can put in suspected drug smugglers, people who have had previous encounters as drug mules or known drug couriers. That information can be put into the LPR [license plate reader], and the LPR alerts the officer that they’ve encountered that car.”

“Keeping your face away from – not close to – your hands, always having to wear gloves and just anything that looks kind of suspicious or off. We have to take double caution on this,” Graziose explained.

Officer Cole Rutherford of Anson PD allowed KTAB/KRBC-TV to ride along on his nightly patrol. He described not only how dangerous it is to consume fentanyl but also how to handle it.

“It’s scary. It’s scary every time. It’s a silent killer. That’s the best way to describe it because you never know … you could be driving down the road and accidentally touch your face with your hand and you’re exposed to it,” Rutherford warned.

Taylor County District Attorney James Hicks is well aware of the extent of influence this deadly drug holds when dealing with cases in the courtroom.

“Fentanyl’s been around forever. The problem is that fentanyl is touching the criminal community in a way that no other drug has ever touched in my years of experience,” Hicks shared. “Fentanyl is affecting all of the domestic violence situations, and we’re dealing with families that are being destroyed because of drugs. Opioids and Fentanyl specifically.”

Meanwhile, Texas House Bill 6, which became law September, 2023, gives prosecutors like Hicks more power when pursuing fentanyl dealers.

“If the dealer deals to someone that ingests or introduces fentanyl into their body and dies. We can go after the dealer for murder. That is a perfect example of how fentanyl has gone beyond just the drugs statute,” Hicks explained.

Although district attorney’s offices across Texas have a new weapon in the fight against fentanyl, the lethal drug is impacting state agencies across the board.

“Our law enforcement is being overwhelmed by it. Our Child Protective Services and our family courts are being overwhelmed by it. We’ve got to make a difference. We’ve got to control this issue,” Hicks said.

But for Officer Rutherford and those like him, the effects can extend beyond the criminal element.

“With the scare of Fentanyl, everything’s had to change. Like, I can’t just walk in the house and go and grab my kids. Usually before I touch my kids, I go to the shower because you don’t know what it is you’re taking home,” Rutherford said.

From the DA’s perspective, the message regarding fentanyl is clear.

“We don’t need another case to prosecute for homicide or domestic violence or any kind of assaultive behavior. We need to turn this community around.”

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