MARYSVILLE, Wash., March 28, 2023—The Marysville Police Department has issued a public advisory after fentanyl pills disguised as candy called “Rainbow Fentanyl” were confiscated during a Friday, March 24, drug raid called, “Operation Clean Sweep.”
“Operation Clean Sweep” led to eight arrests, 37 contacts, one citation, three drug referrals, two seized narcotics, and one seized vehicle, according to Marysville Police. During the operation, 28 grams of meth and more than 200 fentanyl pills were confiscated. Some of the fentanyl pills were discovered in a Tic Tac container and colored to look like candy.
This advisory comes just days after the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) released a Public Safety Alert on March 20, warning of a sharp increase in the trafficking of fentanyl mixed with xylazine.
“Xylazine is making the deadliest drug threat our country has ever faced, fentanyl, even deadlier,” said U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration Anne Milgram in last Monday’s announcement. “DEA has seized xylazine and fentanyl mixtures in 48 of 50 States. The DEA Laboratory System is reporting that in 2022 approximately 23% of fentanyl powder and 7% of fentanyl pills seized by the DEA contained xylazine.”
According to the DEA, Xylazine and fentanyl drug mixtures place users at a higher risk of suffering a fatal drug poisoning for which naloxone (Narcan) does not reverse its effects. Also, those who inject drug mixtures containing xylazine appear to develop severe wounds, including necrosis—the rotting of human tissue—that may lead to amputation.
This work proactively targets individuals committing crimes throughout the city, with a focus on visible livability issues like trespassing, narcotics use, traffic crimes, shoplifting and other community concerns. Units assigned to the operation also assisted patrol with a shoplifting and assault case at Coastal.
In 2022, DEA seized more than 57.7 million fentanyl-lace fake pills and more than 13,700 pounds of fentanyl powder— a combined equivalent of 410 million lethal doses of fentanyl. As of March 27, 2023, the DEA has seized 8.17 million fentanyl pills this year and approximately 1,660 pounds of fentanyl powder.
RELATED STORY: MARYSVILLE GETS TOUGH ON PUBLIC DRUG USE AND INAPPROPRIATE TRANSIT BEHAVIOR
Author: Mario Lotmore
