10.24.24

Cantwell, Law Enforcement, & Elected Leaders Talk New Tools to Fight Spokane’s Fentanyl Epidemic

Spokane Fire Station 1 is busiest in the state & responds to triple the typical number of calls, driven largely by drug overdoses; Bill intro’d by Cantwell - and endorsed by SPD chief and Spokane sheriff - could help halt the flow of fentanyl into Spokane

SPOKANE, WA – Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) joined Spokane Mayor Lisa Brown, Spokane Police Department Chief Kevin Hall, Spokane County Commissioner Chris Jordan, and Spokane County Sheriff John Nowels for a press conference focused on new legislation introduced by Sen. Cantwell -- the Stop Smuggling Illicit Synthetic Drugs on U.S. Transportation Networks Act -- that would empower local law enforcement with new tools to halt the flow of fentanyl into the region.

The press conference was held at Spokane Fire Station 1, which is the busiest fire station in the state. The station currently responds to around 6,300 calls per year – more than triple the norm for a comparable station.

"We want people to know that these resources are worth fighting for," Sen. Cantwell said. "Congress [must] put more focus onto this. We think that if we all work with these resources at the federal and state level and at the local level -- and give local law enforcement and our first responders more tools -- it will help."

Sen. Cantwell’s new bill would crack down on smugglers using the U.S. transportation network to traffic illicit synthetic drugs, like fentanyl. The bill would create first-ever inspection strategies to stop drug smuggling by commercial aircraft, railroads, vehicles and ships. The legislation would also boost state, local, and tribal local law enforcement resources, deploy K9s and next generation non-intrusive detection technologies, and increase inspections at ports of entry.

The Stop Smuggling Illicit Synthetic Drugs on U.S. Transportation Networks Act has been endorsed by both SPD Chief Kevin Hall and Sheriff Nowels, along with numerous elected officials and law enforcement leaders from across the State of Washington.

Photos of today’s press conference are HERE; video is HERE; and a transcript of Sen. Cantwell’s remarks is HERE.