In a significant crackdown on the distribution of lethal drugs, the Austin Police Department (APD) has made an arrest connected to the trade of fentanyl in the Austin area, as reported on the city's official website. Brett Garza, a 31-year-old white male, became the focal point of a six-month surveillance operation by the APD's Narcotic Support Unit (NSU) after being identified as a suspect involved in the drug's distribution from his base in Del Valle.
On August 14, Garza was apprehended during a joint operation by the NSU and APD’s K9 Interdiction Unit, which led to the discovery and seizure of a substantial amount of drugs, including 9 pounds of fentanyl and 1.4 pounds of heroin, along with 115 grams of cocaine, two firearms, and nearly $10,000 in cash, the APD executed a residential search warrant with the help of the APD SWAT team where they found these items. According to the Austin Police, the narcotics were found inside Garza's vehicle after leaving a residence under investigation, and the subsequent residential search unearthed more evidence contributing to his arrest.
The Travis County Jail is now housing Garza, where he awaits charges, and the impetus behind APD's Narcotic Support Unit remains strong; they are committed to "holding those selling dangerous illicit drugs, especially fentanyl, which impact the lives of many in our community accountable for their actions," as stated in the APD publication. This arrest marks a victory for the unit, which continues its relentless pursuit of drug dealers poisoning the streets with fentanyl, a substance connected to an epidemic of overdoses nationwide.
The APD is reaching out to the community for further assistance, urging anyone with information about the sale of illicit drugs to contact the APD Narcotics Tipline via phone or email, and the Capital Area Crime Stoppers Program also accepts anonymous tips that might lead to an arrest and could result in a reward of up to $1,000. The department's proactive approach to curtailing drug distribution emphasizes public participation and joint efforts, an essential strategy in combating the fentanyl crisis plaguing Austin and countless other communities.
