Fentanyl busted; 129,000 fatal doses taken off streets
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A vehicle stop on ORE66 resulted in the bust of 9 oz. of fentanyl and 1 oz. of methamphetamine. The amount of fentanyl seized would approximately equate to 129,250 fatal doses of the drug. (submitted photo)
The following is a press release from the Klamath Falls Police Department
KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. - On September 2, 2022, the Klamath Falls Police Department, Basin Interagency Narcotics Enforcement Team (BINET), and the Oregon State Police stopped a vehicle carrying approximately 9 ounces of fentanyl and an ounce of methamphetamine on Highway 66 near Klamath Falls, Oregon.
Matthew Morse (52 years old) was arrested and lodged in the Klamath County Jail. A second suspect was also cited and released for felony drug charges.
The vehicle stop was coordinated by BINET after almost a yearlong investigation into major fentanyl dealers supplying the drug into Klamath Falls. The fentanyl seized from Mr. Morse was en route to supply local Klamath Falls fentanyl dealers from its source location in central California.
The amount of fentanyl BINET seized from Mr. Morse would approximately equate to 129,250 fatal doses of the drug.
According to KFPD’s Sgt. Barden, the estimated street value of the drugs is $25,000.
According to the Oregon Health Authority, opioid overdose deaths are continuing to increase in Oregon and Klamath County.
In 2019, Oregon overdose deaths totaled 280 total and in 2021 those numbers increased to well over 700. BINET and the Drug Enforcement Administration are working hard to interrupt the flow of this dangerous drug into Klamath County. So far this year, investigations have seized over two pounds of powdered fentanyl and thousands of counterfeit fentanyl pills en route to supply Klamath Falls.
Anyone with information regarding the distribution of fentanyl and dangerous drugs within Klamath County is encouraged to call the Klamath Falls Police Department Anonymous Tip Line at (541) 883-5334 or the Klamath County Sheriff’s Office Tip Line at (541) 850-5380.