MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WREG) — The director of the West Tennessee Drug Task Force said agents seized 1 pound of the deadly drug fluorofentanyl, as well as 8 pounds of methamphetamine, during an interdiction operation last week.
Director Johnie Carter said on Tuesday, Dec. 9, agents with the West Tennessee Violent Crime and Drug Task Force’s Criminal Interdiction Unit were working a special assignment at an undisclosed location in Memphis, where they seized the illicit substances.
Fluorofentanyl is a synthetic compound of fentanyl and is created through the addition of another atom to the chemical structure.
Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy commended the efforts of the West Tennessee Drug Force agents.
“Fentanyl is poison. It leads to more overdoses than any other drug, and is often mixed in with other drugs, so people don’t even know they’re taking it,” said Mulroy. “And fluorofentanyl’s even more deadly. This is yet another success by our DTF agents, who are working in Memphis’ highest crime areas, under our VCIF grant from the State, to keep people safe.”
Carter said that while naloxone is effective in reversing an overdose of fentanyl, it usually requires many more doses than regular fentanyl requires to reverse the effects, and is one of the top contributors to overdose deaths.
The investigation was funded in part by Gov. Bill Lee’s Violent Crime Initiative Fund grant. No other details are being released at this time.