On Wednesday, October 18, a joint operation conducted by the Oregon State Police (OSP) and the Portland Police Bureau’s Central Bike Squad aimed to combat the unlawful sale of fentanyl in downtown Portland. The operation led to multiple arrests, a substantial seizure of currency, and a significant quantity of fentanyl recovered.
In the course of the operation, law enforcement successfully arrested seven individuals for the Delivery of a Controlled Substance (fentanyl), along with one arrest for the Possession of a Controlled Substance (fentanyl). Two of the individuals taken into custody faced an additional charge for the Unlawful Possession of a Firearm.
The results of this operation were striking, with several thousand dollars in currency confiscated and approximately 500 grams of powdered fentanyl recovered. To put this into perspective, authorities say this quantity of fentanyl could have potentially been used to distribute 250,000 lethal doses within the community.
These enforcement actions were concentrated in a relatively small area of approximately 12 blocks within downtown Portland, emphasizing the severity of the fentanyl problem in the heart of the city.
All the arrested suspects, comprising seven adults and one juvenile, were promptly lodged in the Multnomah County Jail. This collaborative effort between OSP and the Portland Police Bureau serves as a testament to their commitment to enhancing safety in the downtown core, disrupting and deterring dangerous criminal activities, and assisting vulnerable populations in breaking free from the grasp of fentanyl.
Superintendent Casey Codding expressed the importance of these joint patrols, stating, “Our collaborative PPB/OSP patrols are making a difference. We are committed to bringing a sense of safety to the downtown core, disrupting and deterring dangerous criminal actions, and aiding our vulnerable population in breaking the grasp of fentanyl.”
Source: OSP
