Like virtually every other community in the state, drugs continue to trouble area residents, both in the form of addiction, harm to families, and drug-related crime. Fortunately for Fallon, however, the North Central Narcotic Task Force proactively works to combat drug use and sales in Churchill County and its surrounding areas. Primarily focusing on narcotics enforcement and protecting local citizens against drug-related crime, the Task Force comprises dedicated police officers from the Nevada State Police – Investigations Division, the Fallon Police Department, deputies from the Churchill County Sheriff’s Office. This year, they have a little good news to report.
Despite a very busy year, the Task Force reports no significant increase in arrests or drug-related crime. In fact, over the last year, fewer property crimes have been reported. Whether or not the slight downturn in break-ins, thefts, and property offenses directly results from Task Force efforts, it is good news for Fallon residents. In 2022, they made a total of 118 arrests, seized five firearms, and $91,971 in illicit narcotics.
Another positive is that the Task Force has still not seen any measurable influx of the more dangerous drugs like fentanyl, heroin, and street-produced opioids. Unfortunately, that is not the case for some rural areas like Elko and Winnemucca, which report more fentanyl in their communities. Even though it is not highly prevalent in the area, the Task Force remains vigilant as fentanyl has an elevated risk of overdose. Everyone handles it differently. One person’s dose is another person’s death sentence. Additionally, unbeknownst to the user, it is often compounded with other drugs making it even more dangerous.
The Task Force reports they have responded to fewer calls involving overdoses over the last year. Further, they have not seen an increase in drug-related gun use or violence and have seized fewer guns in the previous year than in prior periods. Both factors are good news from a Task Force perspective and for the residents, the safer the community is, the better.
The primary focus of the Task Force is illicit drugs; however, they often respond to reports of backyard marijuana growing. Initially, they will work with individuals to educate them on Nevada’s marijuana laws concerning private recreational cultivation. For example, growing cannabis is prohibited if a licensed dispensary is within 25 miles, and plants may not be visible in a public place or from the road. Also, growing pot on property not owned by the grower requires the owner’s permission. The Task Force will escalate the matter and take action against private growers who continue to grow marijuana in the community illegally.
In addition to their regular narcotics activities, the Task Force assists in large-scale eradication of illegal marijuana growing operations. They participated in two major busts last year in eastern Nevada near Ely, where they confiscated over 6,000 plants. In both cases, foreign nationals with suspected ties to drug cartels were responsible. According to the Task Force, these and other sizeable illegal growing operations are in highly remote areas on BLM or public parklands. They are often stumbled upon accidentally by hunters or research scientists. Once these “hot spots” are taken down, the Task Force must also watch to ensure that the growers do not reoccupy the area and restart their illegal activity.
Most Task Force arrests remain on the user and low-to-mid-level dealer scale, suggesting that the primary sources for the illegal narcotics are from outside the area. the larger dealers do appear, the Task Force has been able to shut them down relatively quickly.
Meth remains the area’s drug of choice and continues to plague families and the public at large. However, thanks to the Task Force in concert with local law enforcement, meth use is not going unchecked.
With a bit of luck, sufficient resources, and the community’s support, the Task Force can continue to ebb the flow of illicit narcotics heading for the streets of Fallon and Northern Nevada.
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