Yavapai County Receives HIDTA Award to Strengthen Fight Against Drug Trafficking and Fentanyl Crisis | Prescott Valley Times Local News

Yavapai County has been designated a High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA), which will bring new resources and increased law enforcement partnership in the ongoing fight against drug activity in the county.

The designation of the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) program will allow for easier information sharing between YCSO and other law enforcement agencies and provide additional resources to combat the trafficking of deadly fentanyl and other drugs in the state, which has been exacerbated by the collapse in immigration enforcement at the border.

“With 50% of the fentanyl seized in the country each year occurring in Arizona, every available resource is critical to ensuring the safety of Yavapai County residents,” said Yavapai County Sheriff David Rhodes. “It took a few years to receive this designation and additional resources, but now we are ready to expand our efforts to combat human trafficking and apprehend traffickers.”

According to the federal Office of National Drug Control Policy, the Arizona HIDTA removed $325 million worth of illegal drugs from the market in 2023, including the seizure of 36 million fentanyl pills, along with millions of dollars.

For more information, visit HIDTA (dea.gov).