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Eugene police find 18 lbs of fentanyl, largest bust in department history


Fentanyl pills - KATU photo
Fentanyl pills - KATU photo
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There have been several major drug busts in Oregon in recent weeks.

Just today, we learned that Eugene police had the largest seizure of fentanyl in the history of their department.

According to police, 18 pounds of suspected fentanyl powder and pills were found.

The DEA said one kilogram, which is 2.2lbs of fentanyl can kill 500,00 people.

"It doesn’t hurt that we’re taking drugs off the streets. Right, I think it just goes to show you how much drugs are out there on the street," said Erik Kilgore, who lost his brother to a fentanyl overdose.

Law enforcement officials said while it's impossible to know how many drugs are out there, any drug laced with fentanyl off the streets is a good thing.

In recent weeks, the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office found 92,000 fentanyl pills during a traffic stop.

Then, during another traffic stop near Madras, the Oregon State Police found almost 15lbs of fentanyl powder.

Also, two Portland men face federal charges for making and trafficking hundreds of thousands of counterfeit oxycodone pills containing fentanyl.

The DEA warns of drug production trends using bright colors and shapes to target younger users.

"One 19-year-old told me it’s common now to know someone who’s died from fentanyl death," Kilgore said.

Kilgore now works to spread awareness about this deadly drug and helps distribute Narcan: the treatment for opioid overdoses.

"A lot of people think Narcan enables drug use, it doesn’t. The only thing it enables is life," Kilgore said.

If you or anyone you know is struggling with addiction, here is a list of resources to consider:

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