More than $45 million worth of illegal drugs seized by Pa. troopers in 2020

More than $45 million worth of illicit drugs was taken off the streets by state troopers in 2020, according to police.

That was about $2 million more than the total in 2019, when troopers confiscated more than $43 million in prohibited drugs statewide.

In 2020, troopers seized more than 300 pounds of cocaine worth about $5.75 million, 150 pounds of heroin valued at $5.1 million and approximately 78 pounds of fentanyl valued at $1.25 million.

Most of that heroin total and about 44% of the cocaine were confiscated in the fourth quarter of 2020, according to state police statistics.

Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid more powerful than heroin, has contributed to an explosion of drug overdose deaths in the region for several years. It has been the top killer since 2016 and contributed to 91 of 102 confirmed drug overdose deaths in Westmoreland County last year, according to coroner statistics.

About 7,200 pounds of processed marijuana valued at $21.8 million, along with nearly 2,000 marijuana plants, were confiscated in 2020.

Troopers locally seized 800 pounds of marijuana in three separate busts on the Pennsylvania Turnpike and in New Stanton in April, July and September. Those busts resulted in five arrests of people from out of the area.

The Drug Enforcement Administration said in its 2019 National Drug Threat Assessment that black market marijuana production within the country is on the rise, particularly in states where marijuana has been legalized. Cocaine was seen as a “resurgent threat” and heroin and fentanyl continue to be the deadliest illicit substances, according to the report. Medical marijuana is legal in Pennsylvania, but neighboring states have either decriminalized marijuana, legalized medicinal uses or both.

In 2018, troopers seized $66 million worth of illicit drugs statewide.