BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBRC) – In an effort to combat the fentanyl epidemic ravaging communities across America, Governor Kay Ivey and the state of Alabama have joined forces with the state of Virginia to participate in Operation Free, a law enforcement initiative.

The operation began on September 15 and ended on October 31. Governor Ivey called the partnership “historic.”

During Operation Free, the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) of the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) and officers from the Alabama Drug Enforcement Task Force (ADETF) seized more than 48,800 grams of illegal drugs. About 1,700 grams were fentanyl.

State Rep. Rex Reynolds (District 21) served on the task force and says he’s proud to be taking drugs off the streets, but also proud of the efforts made by state lawmakers to strengthen penalties against fentanyl dealers, to to invest in substance abuse treatment and to teach children from an early age the dangers of these drugs.

“We’ve lost a lot of Alabamians to fentanyl, and now we’re not only seeing pure fentanyl, but other drugs with fentanyl, so we need to educate our youth about the dangers and put them off. exposed,” said Rep. Reynolds.

He also says Alabama’s fight against fentanyl is far from over.

“We feel like this operation will pick up again after the first of the year, and we’re certainly looking forward to learning the best practices from the few weeks we’ve been through now and then being ready to come back and join the partnerships and target fentanyl. being sold on our streets,” said Rep. Reynolds.

To learn more about how to protect yourself, your family and your community, visit Only one is needed.

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