Mercer County agencies trying to take charge of illegal drugs


Drugs and money were recovered from a drug bust by the Beulah Police Department in the fall of 2020. Submitted photo

Drugs and money were recovered from a drug bust by the Beulah Police Department in the fall of 2020. Submitted photo

Drugs like LSD and heroin were widely popular in the 1980s and 1990s.

The pair have never officially disappeared from the drug scene, but they are making a comeback. Law enforcement officers in Mercer County are seeing LSD and heroin a little more while doing search warrants or on routine stops.

“They never disappeared, but they are starting to resurface,” Mercer County Deputy Mark Schmitt said. “LSD tabs are making a resurgence along with heroin. It’s more stuff to be aware of and stuff we might not frequently see. They have a new way they bring it in, package it and hide it.”

Drugs like marijuana, methamphetamine, psychedelic mushrooms and prescription drugs like oxycontin are still the most common found by law enforcement. Beulah Police Chief Frank Senn said the street price of the prescription drugs have increased and punishments have become more severe. That has opened up the door for drugs like LSD and heroin to rear their ugly heads.

Schmitt said liquid meth has also been found in the county and two pounds was recently discovered during a search warrant.

“Liquid meth is the purest form,” Schmitt said. “A dealer would have to take that and turn it into their product that they sell. We don’t see if often. People who are running around with that are usually your dealers. They are turning it into a product that they can sell in the crystalized form.”

Senn said fentanyl, an opioid used as pain medicine and together with other medicine for anesthesia, is in the area but it comes in different forms. Oftentimes, a meth or marijuana user could be buying a product off the street and it’s laced with fentanyl.

“Unfortunately, people are putting that into their bodies,” Senn said. “It’s scary. People think they are putting one thing in their body, and they are putting multiple things in their body. There are so many things out there people try to pass off as one thing, and it’s something totally different.”

Through training, Senn has learned that some dealers use rat poison as a cutter to stretch their drug out. Senn mentioned there are many dangerous ingredients that make up meth.

“People are taking a chance every time they put something into their body,” Senn said. “All of it is contrary to what your body can handle. Somebody thinks they’re getting good meth. There’s one break in the product and they compromise their health or life.”

Schmitt said all agencies in Mercer County have developed a good working relationship to help fight the war on drugs.

“We get phone calls from people in the community from people who recognize things that don’t look right,” he said. “We have the communities and everybody working together. We’re doing what we can to get it out of here.”

One response to “Mercer County agencies trying to take charge of illegal drugs”

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