Cocaine and methamphetamine seizures in Montana increased sharply during the first quarter of 2026 compared to the same period last year, while fentanyl seizures continued a downward trend, Attorney General Austin Knudsen announced.
“Fentanyl and other dangerous drugs continue to threaten communities, and the battle against the cartels that are bringing them into our state is far from over,” Knudsen said. “Montana’s anti-drug task forces continue to aggressively target drug traffickers and adapt to changing trends. The Montana Department of Justice remains committed to seizing illegal drugs before they reach our communities.”
Rocky Mountain High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area task forces seized 30,179 dosage units of fentanyl during the first quarter of 2026, down slightly from 31,506 dosage units seized during the same period last year. Cocaine seizures doubled, from 7 pounds to 14 pounds, and methamphetamine seizures jumped 133%, from 26 pounds to 130 pounds. The figures come from six RMHIDTA Montana task forces that include the Montana Department of Justice’s Narcotics Bureau and Montana Highway Patrol Criminal Interdiction Teams and do not represent all drug seizures by law enforcement statewide.
From January 1 through July 6, the Montana Highway Patrol’s Criminal Interdiction Teams separately seized more than 70 pounds of methamphetamine, 23 pounds of marijuana, $43,557 in cash and 35 weapons.
According to the State Crime Lab, there have been 13 fentanyl-linked fatal overdoses and 16 methamphetamine-linked fatal overdoses in Montana so far this year. Those figures do not represent the statewide total, as the crime lab only verifies deaths involving an autopsy.
Knudsen launched the Drug-Free Montana Tour this year to encourage students to avoid drugs and highlight the impact of substance abuse, and continues to host Opioid Overdose Prevention Summits across the state. During the 2025 legislative session, he supported Senate Bill 261, which allows prosecutors to charge adults with endangering the welfare of a child if fentanyl, heroin, cocaine or other dangerous drugs are found in their possession while a child is present.
By: DNU News wire
