Site Logo

Latest Drugs

An officer from the U.S. Border Patrol’s Blaine Sector office, which has assigned two permanent officers to Juneau as of December. (U.S. Border Patrol photo)

News

Border Patrol launches Juneau operation, with eye on drugs rather than mass deportations

Two-person deployment will work with police, tribal, other agencies throughout Southeast Alaska.

(Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

News

Three women arriving on flights arrested on drug charges in two incidents at Juneau’s airport

Drugs with a street value of more than $175,000 seized during arrests, according to JPD.

Kenneth Kitka, 65, is taken into custody following a nearly three-hour standoff with police at a downtown Juneau residence on Thursday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

News

Man arrested after downtown standoff faces 10 criminal charges as drugs, cash, handguns seized

Kenneth Kitka, 65, has previous history of drug charges as new case gets first hearing Friday.

A tag is place on a evidence bag containing small baggies of drugs seized by the Juneau Police Department. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)

News

Juneau grand jury indicts six people in Southeast Alaska drug distribution investigation

Illegal activity based in Petersburg, one suspect arrested in Juneau, according to police.

A retail complex in the 9100 block of Glacier Highway is where investigators with the Southeast Alaska Cities Against Drugs (SEACAD) task force arrested David Melvin Cox Jr., 35, on drug charges Thursday afternoon, according to the Juneau Police Department. JPD said Cox, when approached, re-entered a business, attempting to discard drugs and cash before surrendering. (Meredith Jordan/ Juneau Empire)

News

Juneau man suspected of dealing variety of illegal drugs arrested by SEACAD

David Melvin Cox Jr., 35, also faces weapons charges

Rows of tour buses are parked Thursday next to a city-owned warehouse, at left, a portion of which is scheduled to open as a winter warming shelter starting Friday night. Some businesses managers and employees in the area say people experiencing homelessness have been found sleeping on busses and engaging in other disruptive activity, which is prompting an increase in security and other precautions in preparation for the shelter’s opening. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

News

Security and other impacts of winter warming shelter on nearby businesses raise concerns

Resident near Mill Campground says illegal activity surged, worries about same as shelter opens.

Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire Juneau Chief of Police Ed Mercer speaks to the Greater Juneau Chamber of Commerce Thursday afternoon ahead of his retirement slated for Monday, July 31.

News

Police chief talks recruitment woes, threat of illegal drugs ahead of retirement

Ed Mercer gives his final talk to the Chamber days before his departure from department.

This March 10 photo shows drugs seized by police. A Juneau man was arrested Thursday on felony drug charges and police seized several types of drugs with a street value of $32,650, plus nearly $50,000 in cash. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

News

Police: Juneau man arrested for distributing multiple types of drugs

Narcotics seized have an estimated value of more than $30,000.

The City and Borough of Juneau Harbormaster Enforcement vessel drives past the Dusky Rock which sits at Aurora Harbor. The vessel was towed there from Sandy beach Friday evening after three people died within a three-day period aboard the vessel while anchored offshore. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

News

Three people found dead on boat anchored off Sandy Beach

Drug use a possible factor in deaths of one man and two women during three-day span

File Photo

News

Washington woman arrested for sourcing drugs distributed to Juneau in 2022

“I think this will make a difference in the amount of drugs flowing into our community.”

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

News

Police: 2 arrested after 5,000 counterfeit oxycodone pills, fentanyl seized

Juneau man and woman arrested on felony charges.

This April photo shows the Juneau International Airport. On Tuesday two Juneau residents were arrested on multiple drug-related charges at the airport. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire File)

News

Two Juneau residents arrested for drugs at airport

It’s the third six-figure bust this week.

A Juneau man was arrested for possession of drugs in Harris Harbor on Monday. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

News

Juneau man arrested at harbor for drug possession

Law enforcement personnel waited till the man picked up the package before arresting him.

This April photo shows the Juneau International Airport. On Saturday a woman was arrested on multiple drug-related charges at the airport. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire File)

News

Police seize drugs at airport

The estimated value was more than $100,000.

Department of Health and Social Services Commissioner Adam Crum, speaks at a news conference with Gov. Mike Dunleavy about the state's efforts to combat the increase in drug overdoses driven by the synthetic opioid fentanyl, on Tuesday, May 3, 2022. (Screenshot)

News

Dunleavy announces efforts to combat fentanyl crisis

More avenues to get help.

An Arizona man was arrested for his role bringing large quantities of methamphetamine to Fairbanks between 2019 and 2020 according to a Department of Justice news release. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

News

Arizona man arrested for trafficking 60 pounds of meth to Fairbanks

The scale indicates it could be part of a larger operation.

Task force arrests two, seizes $40,000 in drugs

News

Task force arrests two, seizes $40,000 in drugs

The regional organization has members from a number of law enforcement agencies.

Juneau police arrest man for weapons misconduct, possession of drugs

News

Juneau police arrest man for weapons misconduct, possession of drugs

The man was located Wednesday morning with heroin and methamphetamine.

Michael S. Lockett | Juneau Empire Substance misuse costs the state of Alaska $3.45 billion every year, according to a report released recently by the McDowell Group.

News

“Every hour of every day:” the cost of substance misuse in Alaska

Alaskans are paying in money and lives.

Opinion: Solving the opioid epidemic starts with cracking down on fentanyl

Opinion

Opinion: Solving the opioid epidemic starts with cracking down on fentanyl

It’s a problem we can solve with smart and proactive policy choices.