Thurston County Narcotics Task Force Arrests Man Accused of Dealing Fentanyl, Heroin and Meth

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Deputies arrested a 39-year-old Thurston County man on Tuesday who is accused of dealing fentanyl and other illicit drugs.

The Thurston County Narcotics Task Force arrested the man after executing a search warrant at his home in the 5000 block of Peninsula Drive Southeast, near Lake St. Clair, according to Sheriff's Office news release.

The search uncovered fentanyl, heroin, methamphetamine, firearms, cash and other items that were seized by law enforcement. Task force detectives investigated the alleged mid-level fentanyl dealer for several months before arresting him, according to the release.

The man was booked into the county jail on suspicion of unlawful possession of a controlled substance, fentanyl, with intent to manufacture, delivery or sell while armed, and two counts of unlawful delivery of a controlled substance, fentanyl.

Fentanyl is the leading cause of overdoses in Thurston County. The synthetic opioid is 50-100 stronger than morphine and often mixed with other substances.



At least 36 people died from fentanyl overdoses in 2021 and at least 45 people died from any opioid that same year in Thurston County, according to preliminary data from March. These numbers have yet to be finalized so the final count may be higher.

Even if the data remained static, fentanyl overdose deaths more than doubled between 2020 and 2021, The Olympian previously reported.

The Thurston County Narcotics Task Force is a partnership between the Sheriff's Office and state and federal law enforcement that targets criminal organizations involved in dealing or trafficking illicit drugs, guns or people.

Given the impact of fentanyl, the taskforce aims to continue focusing on people who market fentanyl, according to the news release.

The Olympian does not name people accused of crimes until they appear in court.