WASHINGTON D.C – A four-month, nationwide effort to take synthetic drugs off the streets resulted in federal agents serving nearly 200 search warrants in 29 states, involving more than 45 Drug Enforcement Administration offices.
Project Synergy Phase II is designed to attack supply sources and the flow of money generated by drug trafficking organizations that have set up shop in communities across the county, federal officials announced today.
More than 150 people have been arrested by federal, state and local law enforcement authorities who have seized hundreds of thousands packaged synthetic drug as well as hundreds of kilograms of raw synthetic products being used to make thousands more, officials said.
In addition, more than $20 million in cash and assets were seized, officials said.
“Tragically, people die every day at the hands of illegal designer drugs,” said ICE Deputy Director Daniel Ragsdale, “Through operations like this, we strike a blow to drug dealers and continue an important national conversation about the dangers associated with drug use.”
Over the past five years, DEA has identified between 200 and 300 new designer drugs from eight different classes, the vast majority of which are manufactured in China.
In addition to targeting retailers, wholesalers, and manufacturers, many of these investigations continued to uncover the massive flow of drug-related proceeds to countries in the Middle East, including Yemen, Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon, and as well as other countries, officials said.
Investigations also targeted many trade implements such as organic leaves and packaging material used in preparation for drug re-sale and distribution. These facilitators are key players in this ever-changing designer drug industry, officials said.
DEA officials said the U.S. has experienced the “scourge” of designer synthetic drugs, which are often marketed as herbal incense, bath salts, jewelry cleaner, or plant food.
These dangerous drugs have caused significant abuse, addiction, overdoses, and emergency room visits. Those who have abused synthetic drugs have suffered vomiting, anxiety, agitation, irritability, seizures, hallucinations, tachycardia, elevated blood pressure, and loss of consciousness, according to the DEA.
They have caused significant organ damage as well as overdose deaths.
DEA Administrator Michele M. Leonhart said: “The success of Project Synergy II could not have been possible without the assistance of our state, local and foreign law enforcement partners. We stand united in our commitment to aggressively pursue criminals who are all too willing to experiment on our children and young adults.”
The first phase of Project Synergy began in December of 2012, and resulted in more than 227 arrests and 416 search warrants served in 35 states, 49 cities and five countries, along with more than $60 million in cash and assets seized.
Altogether, 9,445 kilograms of individually packaged, ready-to-sell synthetic drugs, 299 kilograms of cathinone drugs (the falsely labeled “bath salts”), 1,252 kilograms of synthetic cannabinoid drugs (used to make the so-called “fake pot” or herbal incense products), and 783 kilograms of treated plant material were seized, officials said.
Authorities say the investigations continue.