Illegal pot, heroin and opium among drugs seized most by Anchorage police

Police officers in Anchorage are seizing more heroin than almost any other drug.

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During a presentation to the Assembly’s public safety committee today, Anchorage Police Department officials shared figures on confiscations of illegal substances. Between March and August, officers intercepted 870 grams of heroin — the equivalent of roughly 9,000 individual doses. Most of that came from street-level enforcement by the Community Action Policing team.

Separately, the department’s Vice unit, which focuses on larger drug cases, seized two kilos worth of opium, which they say equates to about 20,000 doses for opioid users.

The only drug confiscated at a higher volume between March and August in the municipality was marijuana being sold outside the state’s regulated legal market. Officers also seized 334.5 grams of methamphetamine, which remains a significant problem in Anchorage.

APD Chief Justin Doll, told the Assembly that policing drug offenses remains one of the department’s best strategies for investigating more serious property and violent crimes.

Zachariah Hughes reports on city & state politics, arts & culture, drugs, and military affairs in Anchorage and South Central Alaska.

@ZachHughesAK About Zachariah

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