CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Charleston Police Department Chief Steve Cooper says they are now seizing more methamphetamine than heroin in the Capital City.
The comments come after the Metro Drug Unit conducted a search Thursday at a Wyoming Street apartment. Five people were arrested after meth and heroin were discovered.
Police arrested Harmony Harris, 18; Tjhaun Green, 19; Ronnell Turner, 18 (all of Akron, Ohio); Jamice West, 18; and 28-year-old Devon Alexander (both of Charleston).
Cooper said Friday they have seized five times as much meth as heroin so far this year.
“If you look at the charts, they have really tipped from 2014, 2015 almost in the opposite direction,” he said. “Crystal meth has taken over.”
Cooper said meth’s rise in popularity is due to its low price and availability.
“The cartels are just flooding the market with this cheap crystal meth,” he said. “Their profit margins are down from marijuana and other drugs, so they’re just flooding the market now with crystal meth.”
Cooper said the meth is laced with a chemical leading users to become dependent of the drug.
The five people are now at South Central Regional Jail on $25,000 property/surety bonds.