UPDATE:
A big win Wednesday for the Mobile County Sheriff's Office. Deputies brought in a known drug dealer, seizing several kilograms of illicit drugs in the process, including 30,000 pills of fentanyl, keeping the deadly drug out of our community. The Sheriff says he is relentlessly in pursuit of people that sell illegal drugs, especially fentanyl. The Sheriff laid down the law today, saying if you're selling drugs, his office is coming for you.
"He won't be the last arrest in this case and for those of you who know your affiliation with him... I would suggest you come see us before we come see you," says Sheriff Paul Burch.
On March 28th, the Mobile County Sheriff's Office assisted by several other agencies arrested this man James Harris at his apartment. Deputies executed search warrants for both Harris' apartment as well as his storage unit.
"If you're dealing drugs in Mobile, Alabama we're coming after you," says Burch.
Sheriff Burch says deputies and investigators seized 10 kilograms of cocaine, 1 kilogram of meth, more than 50 thousand dollars in cash, and about 30 thousand fentanyl pills.
"I don't want to downplay the cocaine or the ice, but fentanyl is what's killing people and so you estimate 30,000 pills. It only takes one to kill several people," he says.
Burch saying it's a huge win for law enforcement and the community. To make matters even better: Narcan, the lifesaving medicine that can reverse an opioid overdose, can now be sold over the counter. It's a change Virginia Guy, the Executive Director of the Drug Education Council, says will help combat the fentanyl crisis.
"You know there's really not a downside to this, you know it's really just horrible that we're in this epidemic and Narcan does give people a chance to reverse and overdose," says Virginia Guy.
She says you can't overdose on Narcan and now that it will be more easily accessible, you should try to get your hands on it.
"You really need to have it with you at all times. Particularly if you're around a situation where you may encounter somebody who's overdosing. If you're running a business where the public's in and out, you need to have that available," she says.
Narcan will be available over the counter at gas stations, grocery stores, convenience stores, and online later this summer.
ORIGINAL:
According to the Mobile Co Sheriff's Office, on March 28, 2023, The Mobile County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) along with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and ALEA arrested James 'Jamie' Harris at his apartment for Trafficking Cocaine, Trafficking Methamphetamine (Ice) and Trafficking Fentanyl.
- MCSO and HSI Investigators seized the following;
- (10 ) Kilograms of Cocaine ($500,000 street value)
- (1) Kilogram of Methamphetamine ($6,000 street value)
- Approximately 30,000 fentanyl pills ($300,000 street value)
- $54,920.00 in cash
“This arrest removed a significant drug trafficker from our community ” said Sheriff Paul Burch. “We will not tolerate those criminals who distribute illegal drugs, especially Fentanyl, and we will be relentless in pursuing them”.