Yavapai County was recently designated as a High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA), which is intended to enhance local and federal efforts to combat drug trafficking. According to Yavapai County Sheriff's Officethis new status will strengthen partnerships between law enforcement agencies and improve communication to address the state's drug problems, particularly fentanyl trafficking.

The HIDTA program is designed to better equip Yavapai County with the tools it needs to combat the influx of illegal drugs. “50% of the fentanyl seized in the United States occurs in Arizona each year, so every available resource is critical to keeping Yavapai County residents safe,” said Yavapai County Sheriff David Rose. “Yes,” he said, emphasizing the importance of the designation. Official county announcement. Rose also said that although it took several years to obtain this designation, it has allowed the agency to more effectively scale up its efforts to combat human trafficking and apprehend the criminals involved.

This designation was made in light of large-scale drug seizures across Arizona. The federal Office of National Drug Control Policy reported that Arizona HIDTA was responsible for taking $325 million worth of illegal drugs off the streets in 2023 alone. This included the seizure of approximately 36 million fentanyl pills.

Yavapai County's addition to the HIDTA program represents a strategic escalation of local opposition to drug trafficking. For more information on the HIDTA designation and its impact on Yavapai County, please contact interested parties. Yavapai County Sheriff's Office Website.