‘It’s a battle we can’t stop fighting’

CLAY COUNTY, Fla. – A recent arrest of a 25-year-old man accused of being a fentanyl dealer and trafficker in Clay County is putting the spotlight on the drug epidemic plaguing many communities.

“I’m entering my 32nd year of law enforcement and the drug war does seem like a never-ending battle, but it’s a battle we can’t stop fighting,” Clay County Sheriff Michelle Cook said.

While Cook talked about a decrease in fentanyl overdose deaths in her county, deputies are still averaging more than 630 arrests involving the sale and trafficking of dangerous drugs like fentanyl, meth and cocaine.

“Our death rates appear to be about half of what they were three years ago,” Cook said. “The number of times fire and rescue were dispatched to overdose calls is also trending down.”

Cook said overdose deaths are investigated as a homicide but it’s often a challenge to link the person who died to the dealer who sold them the drug.

“It would be nice to see our overdose deaths come down below our murder rates,” Cook said “Hopefully, with continued education, engagement, and enforcement, we’ll be at a place where we are not talking about dozens of people dying from drug overdoses every year.”

Another trend law enforcement is seeing is a shift from fentanyl to another dangerous drug because the demand is so high that dealers have raised prices.

“What we’re seeing is people moving away from fentanyl, believe it or not, back to methamphetamines,” Cook said.

A gram of fentanyl is no longer affordable for a lot of addicts as it now averages $120 while a gram of meth costs $40. Despite the $80 difference, Cook said addicts who can’t afford fentanyl are still committing theft and burglary crimes to pay for their addiction.

Jarmal Hill was arrested on multiple counts of trafficking and selling fentanyl. Before he was arrested, he was the target of a drug investigation that involved alleged multiple sales of fentanyl to undercover detectives.

Cook said that investigation alone is an example of how keeping dangerous drugs off the streets is a never-ending battle.

“There are too many lives at stake. Too many families at stake and too many communities at stake,” Cook said.

The drug problem has become a political topic with some politicians arguing that the Southern border should be closed to prevent drugs from entering the United States. In Florida, drugs are also being smuggled in by way of the sea as well.

Practically every week, U.S. Customs and Border Protection announced the seizure of kilo quantities of drugs off Florida’s coast.

Cook commented on the smuggling of drugs: “It’s all of the above and I would even add through the mail. We are seeing the precursors for fentanyl coming through the traditional mail. The question is, do we need to close the borders? Absolutely. Do we need to make our waterways more impenetrable? Absolutely. Do we need to scrutinize the mail packages coming through the mail? Absolutely,” Cook said.

Cook said lately, the narcotic deputies have changed the way they go after drug dealers because dealers have taken to social media to advertise and set up their drug deals.

Cook also introduced an initiative with more than 20 organizations called “Hammer and Hope” to reduce overdoses in Clay County. She said the sheriff’s office is starting to see more people take advantage of the free service.