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Meth is now Nebraska’s No. 1 drug threat, new enforcement coalition says

By: - January 26, 2022 4:42 pm

Citing a surge in methamphetamine seizures, a coalition of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies announced Wednesday that they are joining together to fight what the called the state’s No. 1 drug threat.

Seizures of meth grew by 293% in the last five years, according to the Nebraska Attorney General’s Office. Seizures by law enforcement agencies in Nebraska amounted to 768 pounds in 2021.

The partnership was announced at a press conference Wednesday at the Kearney Police Department. Participating agencies included the Nebraska Attorney General’s Office, U.S. Attorney’s Office, Drug Enforcement Administration, FBI and Nebraska State Patrol.

“A leading goal of this partnership is to sound the alarm that meth use continues to spread across our state,” Nebraska Attorney General Doug Peterson said. “We want citizens to be fully informed about the dangers of meth consumption and understand the destruction it brings to communities.”

The purpose of the coalition is to share best practices and ways to address the problem, stated a press release from the Attorney General’s Office.

Today’s methamphetamine, primarily produced by Mexican crime organizations, is deadlier, easier to access and roughly 69% cheaper than the version available in 2005, the Attorney General’s Office said.

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Paul Hammel
Paul Hammel

Senior Reporter Paul Hammel has covered the Nebraska state government and the state for decades. Previously with the Omaha World-Herald, Lincoln Journal Star and Omaha Sun, he is a member of the Omaha Press Club's Hall of Fame. He grows hops, brews homemade beer, plays bass guitar and basically loves traveling and writing about the state. A native of Ralston, Nebraska, he is vice president of the John G. Neihardt Foundation.

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