In the Police/Fire section (page 2) of the recent Cape Gazette May 28, I read about the latest heralded drug bust that netted heroin worth over $1 million, plus $11,000 in cash, two firearms, 16 arrests, while three are still on the run.
Officially known as Operation Royal Flush, it was the result of an eight-month investigation by 11 police agencies in Delaware and Maryland. It reminds me of a News Journal article from February, 2016 headlined, “Large arrest puts dent in Delaware’s heroin market.”
That read in part: “On Wednesday, federal officials announced what they’re calling the largest seizure of prepackaged heroin in state history...worth $488,000 on the streets - off the market in New Castle County…”
One of the police commanders opined that, “We are taking heroin off the streets. We are taking guns off the streets... (but) they’re just easily replenished.”
One reason for the easy “replenishment” is explained in a report from the UN Office of Crime and Drugs. They document that in 2018, “The total opium poppy cultivation area in Afghanistan…is the highest measurement since the beginning of systematic opium poppy monitoring in 1994. The level of 2018 exceeds the third highest level of 2014 by 17 percent…it can be estimated that 5,000 to 5,300 tons of opium are potentially available for heroin production…”
No wonder the police keep breaking drug records in their busts while our hallowed but failing military and smiling, blow-dried politicians provide no effective solutions to stop the carnage on our streets.
Geary Foertsch
Rehoboth Beach
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