Counter Narcotics chief: Public awareness key to curbing fentanyl-related overdose deaths
Savannah s overdose deaths are climbing as those addicted to opioids seek pain medications on the street, many of which are laced with lethal fentanyl
Interview by Adam Van Brimmer
The following is an excerpt from a recent The Commute” podcast discussion featuring Chatham-Savannah Counter Narcotics Team Director Michael Sarhatt. Comments have been condensed in the interest of space. The full interview is available at SavannahNow.com/podcasts or through mobile device podcast apps by searching “The Commute with @SavannahOpinion.”
Question: You took over leadership of the Counter Narcotics Team, or CNT, late last year, coming here from Knoxville. You recognized quickly a trend that involved addiction to opioid pain medication. Can you walk us through that issue?
Emergency calls for suspected overdoses have increased drastically in the past few years. Officials say opioids laced with fentanyl are playing a major role.
CNT seizes large amount of narcotics from Savannah, Garden City
CNT seizes large amount of narcotics from Savannah, Garden City By Sean Evans | May 4, 2021 at 10:02 PM EDT - Updated May 7 at 6:48 PM
SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) - It’s considered one of, if not the largest, drug seizure in the Savannah area.
Members of the Chatham-Savannah Counter Narcotics Team discovered more than a thousand pounds of illegal drugs worth tens of millions of dollars over a week in April.
Agents say they seized approximately 434 kilograms of methamphetamine, approximately 31.1 kilograms of heroin, approximately 14 kilograms of fentanyl, and approximately 12.8 kilograms of cocaine. No arrests were made at the time and CNT is investigating to identify the source of these narcotics.
|May 4, 2021 at 10:02 PM EDT - Updated May 4 at 10:02 PM
SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) - Chatham-Savannah Counter Narcotics Team says they seized a massive amount of drugs in Garden City and Savannah last week.
Agents say they seized approximately 434 kilograms of methamphetamine, approximately 31.1 kilograms of heroin, approximately 14 kilograms of fentanyl, and approximately 12.8 kilograms of cocaine. No arrests were made at the time and CNT is investigating to identify the source of these narcotics.
“This amount of drugs would have had a devastating effect on our community and could have led to countless overdoses,” said CNT Director Michael Sarhatt. “Given the recent increase in fentanyl overdose incidents in the Chatham County area, I am thankful that these drugs were seized before being distributed to our community.”