Cedar Rapids, IOWA — On Wednesday, June 26, 2013, the Department of Public Safety’s Division of Narcotics Enforcement (DNE) participated in “Project Synergy”, a nationwide crackdown on synthetic drugs. Thirteen DNE agents assisted with the execution of multiple search warrants in Eastern Iowa and coordinated the department’s efforts during this operation.
DNE recognizes the devastating effects these drugs are having on Iowa communities and is working with its federal and local partners to combat the proliferation of these drugs in our state. In 2012 the Division of Criminal Investigation’s Criminalistics Laboratory received 1,769 samples of synthetic drugs that represented a total case load of 661 synthetic drug cases in Iowa submitted to the lab.
DNE Director Steve DeJoode states, “The availability and use of these drugs in Iowa has resulted in countless emergency room admissions and the loss of life. It has particularly effected Iowa’s youth and is both an urban and rural problem. I commend the coordinated efforts of all the law enforcement agencies in Iowa that participated in this operation.”
In addition to the coordination provided by the Division of Narcotics Enforcement, 16 agents, troopers and analysts from the Department of Public Safety’s Division of Intelligence, Division of Criminal Investigation and Iowa State Patrol also participated in this project. This was truly a collaborative effort with members of the Tri-County Task Force, Johnson County Task Force, Cedar Rapids DEA Task Force and other federal and local partners working to stop the sale of dangerous synthetic drugs.
DNE is committed to disrupting and dismantling drug trafficking organizations that operate within the state, as well as those organizations operating outside the state that impact Iowa.