In a move to address the surge in drug overdoses, particularly those involving fentanyl, Tarrant County District Attorney (DA) Phil Sorrells has announced the formation of a specialized narcotics unit. This unit will concentrate on prosecuting fentanyl, methamphetamine, heroin, and cocaine cases as per CBS News.
Recent years have seen fentanyl rise as a potent and lethal drug, causing an increase in overdoses across Texas. Data from the Texas Department of State Health Services reveals a rise in fentanyl-related overdose deaths, from 891 cases in 2020 to 2,189 in 2022. This year, almost 2,500 overdoses have been documented in Tarrant County, the majority linked to fentanyl as detailed on CBS News.
Responding to the alarmingly high overdose numbers, the establishment of the narcotics unit is timely. Three seasoned narcotics prosecutors have been assigned to this unit, tasking them with handling not only fentanyl cases but also cases involving other narcotics like methamphetamine, heroin, and cocaine. The DA's office is anticipating around 8,500 drug cases this year per the Dallas Morning News.
Given the recently formulated law, House Bill 6, prosecutors can impose harsher sentences, including murder charges, for individuals involved in distributing fentanyl. Notwithstanding this, the newly established unit can opt to charge someone who makes, sells, or delivers fentanyl, leading to a death, with murder. Currently, no such cases have been pursued in Tarrant County according to the Dallas Morning News.
In the wake of the unit's formation, DA Sorrells has pledged to expel those peddling "this poison" off the streets. He stated, "We are going to get the people who sell this poison off the streets. We will do everything we can to keep our community safe", as quoted in the Dallas Morning News.
