MERCER COUNTY, WV (LOOTPRESS) – Authorities have seized what officials are calling one of the “single largest drug busts in state history” in Mercer County, recovering enough fentanyl to potentially kill 12 million people.
Governor Patrick Morrisey made the announcement in a press conference in Charleston Thursday morning joined by West Virginia State Police and local authorities in Mercer County.
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The seizure, the result of a months-long investigation, included 54 pounds of suspected fentanyl with a street value exceeding $825,000, 70 pounds of suspected crystal meth, 23 pounds of suspected marijuana, 15 firearms, and three brick presses.
Multiple search warrants were executed on September 10, leading to several arrests.
Those charged face delivery of methamphetamine, delivery of fentanyl, and conspiracy to deliver fentanyl.
The investigation involved the West Virginia State Police, Mercer County Sheriff’s Office, the Prosecutor’s Office, and the Southern Regional Drug & Violent Crime Task Force.
“West Virginia, we’re gonna keep the drugs off our streets, we’re going to protect people as much as we humanly can,” Governor Patrick Morrisey said, crediting the agencies involved in tackling the state’s drug problem.
“I am here today to send a clear message: If we haven’t gotten to you yet, if you’re a drug dealer and you’re operating or are trying to operate in West Virginia, we are coming for you. And we’re not going to stop,” Morrisey added.
“There’s a level of aggressiveness to protect our citizens that you haven’t seen before. We’re going to do it in a lawful manner, we’re going to protect your civil rights, operate under the constitution, but we’re going to be very clear, you are not welcome here, and we’re going to come and be aggressive, and we’re going to keep partnering with Trump and [DHS Secretary Kristi] Noem and others to make sure that the right things happen in West Virginia,” he said.
