CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Health and law enforcement officials in West Virginia say they support a new law that could help better detect imported fentanyl before it enters the United States.
President Donald Trump signed the INTERDICT Act last week. It’s an acronym for International Narcotics Trafficking Emergency Response by Detecting Incoming Contraband with Technology.
The law gives U.S. border patrol agents $9 million for extra technology, including portable screening equipment, to help them identify and seize fentanyl at ports of entry and mail facilities.
“I think it’s very important that we apply every tool in our tool box to cut the shipment of fentanyl from countries like China and Mexico into the United States and certainly into West Virginia,” said Dr. Rahul Gupta, state chief health officer and commissioner for the state Department of Human Resources’ Bureau for Public Health.
Gupta told MetroNews West Virginia is already working to fight the drug epidemic and needs help at the federal level.
“While Governor (Jim) Justice has asked the National Guard, local law enforcement and state folks to work and take a lead on this effort, it’s equally important for the federal administration and President Trump to have that opportunity to stop that,” he said.
Charleston Police Chief Steve Cooper is on the front lines of the heroin epidemic every day. He said on last week’s “580 Live” heard on MetroNews affiliate 580-WCHS fentanyl is a dangerous substance.
“A few pounds of fentanyl has the ability to kill a million people. That’s how potent it is,” Cooper said. “We’re seeing a lot of overdose deaths related to fentanyl and it’s being mixed in with the heroin when the distributors are packaging it for resale on the streets.”
Cooper said he supports any measure that can be taken to slow down the flow of fentanyl.
Fentanyl is said to be 50 times more deadly than heroin.
The INTERDICT Act is one of several legislative pieces offered to help fight the opioid epidemic.