Governor Jim Justice has announced the successful outcome of Operation October Sky, an initiative aimed at addressing the ongoing drug crisis in West Virginia. Running from October 7 to October 14, the operation involved law enforcement agencies across the state and resulted in significant drug seizures.
During the week-long operation, authorities confiscated over 28 pounds of methamphetamine, nearly half a pound of fentanyl, and additional substances including heroin and cocaine. The operation led to 70 felony arrests and 176 misdemeanor arrests, highlighting its extensive reach.
In addition to drug seizures, officers also recovered various firearms and seized more than $31,000 in cash linked to illegal drug activities. The operation was a collaborative effort involving the West Virginia State Police and 30 local law enforcement agencies throughout the state.
Real-time support for the interdiction efforts was provided by Intelligence Analyst teams from the West Virginia Fusion Center, in partnership with the West Virginia National Guard Counter Drug. These analysts gathered, processed, and shared vital information with participating agencies, enhancing the overall effectiveness of the operation.
“I am incredibly proud of our teams who pulled together for Operation October Sky,” Justice stated. “We have made strides in cleaning up our streets, but we must acknowledge the severe consequences stemming from loose restrictions at our southern border. This issue exacerbates the drug epidemic and the chaos we face nationwide. However, we will not tolerate it in West Virginia. We are committed to confronting these challenges directly.”
Justice expressed gratitude to the West Virginia State Police and all law enforcement agencies involved for their exceptional efforts in safeguarding the community from the drug crisis. “If this is what we can achieve in just one week, imagine the progress we can make in a year. We must continue to advocate for these kinds of crackdowns,” he concluded.
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