Alaska Department of Public Safety Public Information Office

Trooper 75th Anniversary
AST > PIO > Press Releases > Home

Press Releases

Alaska Law Enforcement Significantly Increases Illegal Drug Seizures in 2024

January 23, 2025 (Anchorage, AK) – The Alaska State Trooper’s Statewide Drug Enforcement Unit (SDEU) released its annual drug report highlighting trends in illegal narcotics trafficking within the state. Troopers seized 1,262 pounds of illegal narcotics across the state including approximately 42 million potentially fatal doses of fentanyl.
Highlights from 2024 Annual Drug Report:

  • There was a 76% increase in the total amount of illegal drugs and alcohol seized by SDEU from 2023 to 2024, including an 89% increase in methamphetamine seizures and a 57% increase in heroin seizures.

  • SDEU made 175 unique drug and alcohol arrests across Alaska in 2024.

  • The U.S. Postal Inspection Service and Alaska State Troopers established a task force in 2024 that allowed Alaska High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) law enforcement officers to help identify and interdict narcotics being sent or received through the mail.

  • International drug trafficking organizations (DTOs) continue to gravitate towards Alaska’s lucrative drug market, looking to exploit remote areas because of high demand and costs.

“One of the core missions of the Alaska State Troopers is to disrupt and dismantle drug trafficking organizations operating in Alaska, and in 2024 we increased our efforts resulting in an increase of drug seizures statewide,” said Alaska Department of Public Safety Commissioner James Cockrell. “Your Alaska State Troopers will continue to work with our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners to hold those that deal deadly drugs accountable for their actions and work around the clock to stop dangerous drugs such as fentanyl from entering Alaska to wreak havoc on our communities.”
The 2024 Annual Drug Report is available online at: 2024 Annual Drug Report (alaska.gov)
The Statewide Drug Enforcement Unit is made up of six regional task forces: Southcentral Areawide Narcotics Team, Fairbanks Area-wide Narcotics Team, Southeast Alaska Cities Against Drugs, Western Alaska Alcohol and Narcotics Team, Mat-Su Narcotics Enforcement Team, and Anchorage Airport Interdiction Team. Each regional task force is comprised of Alaska State Troopers, local police officers, and federal law enforcement agents. Additionally, Alaska has four High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) initiatives.
If you have information about drug trafficking occurring in your community, please consider reporting it to your local police department or the Alaska State Troopers. Tips can also be submitted anonymously though the AKTips smartphone app or online at https://dps.alaska.gov/tips.

PDF Version of Release

Read More

Alaska HIDTA Initiative Increases Enforcement Efforts After Increased Overdose Deaths

December 26, 2024 (ANCHORAGE, AK) – Alaska law enforcement agencies, as part of the state's High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Initiative, increased their enforcement efforts in response to an increase in the deaths of Alaskans due to drug overdoses statewide in 2024.
 
Recognizing that no single agency can fight this battle alone, 22 local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies across the state have partnered for a team approach to remove illicit fentanyl and other dangerous drugs from communities in Alaska.  As part of these efforts, the agencies refocused their comprehensive efforts to interdict fentanyl and other substances at the Anchorage International Airport Complex, including cargo, parcel, mail, and passenger-carry modes of transportation.
 
As of December 15, 2024, law enforcement officers have seized just over 317 pounds of dangerous drugs transiting through the airport complex, including over 100 pounds of fentanyl. The fentanyl seized by law enforcement included 23 million potentially fatal doses destined for Alaska communities.
 
Through the HIDTA initiative, the Alaska State Troopers and United States Postal Inspection Service have increased efforts to identify and interdict drugs transiting through the United States Postal Service. The Alaska State Troopers and USPIS established a unique task force officer program, which, after completing additional training, allows Troopers to assist US Postal Inspectors in identifying and interdicting narcotics transiting the mail. The Alaska State Troopers, Anchorage Police Department, Anchorage Airport Police Officers, and local law enforcement officers from small communities have increased interdiction efforts at the passenger terminals in Anchorage to seize narcotics being carried by persons in their luggage or body. The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Alaska has designated additional federal prosecutors to process search warrants for U.S. Postal Service parcels in an effort to ensure that search warrants are applied expeditiously and charging decisions are swift.
 
“In 2024, our office assigned multiple attorneys to handle search warrants for U.S Postal Service parcels suspected of containing illicit substances, quadrupling the number of search warrants processed compared to last year. Because of this prioritization and our strong partnership with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Alaska State Troopers, parcel drug seizures have increased, preventing large quantities of dangerous drugs from reaching our communities,” said U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker for the District of Alaska. “We are grateful for the ongoing dedication of USPIS and the Alaska State Troopers in protecting Alaskans. Our office will continue collaborating with all investigative partners to disrupt drug trafficking through effective investigations and prosecutions.”
 
"Alaska's local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies are committed to doing our part to address the high rate of drug trafficking and overdose incidents occurring across our great state," said Alaska State Trooper Colonel Maurice Hughes. "To those trafficking these dangerous drugs in Alaska, know that sooner or later, Alaska's dedicated Alaska State Troopers and law enforcement officers will eventually catch up with you and hold you accountable for the death and destruction that you have caused our state."
 
“The Postal Inspection Service is committed to ensuring the U.S. Postal Service is not a mechanism to distributing deadly fentanyl and other illicit narcotics,” said USPIS Seattle Division Inspector in Charge Galetti. “When investigative and prosecutive efforts can come together to identify and charge individuals who distribute drugs throughout Alaska, it makes all our communities safer. We thank our state, local and federal partners for all the efforts and resources they’ve put into helping the US Postal Inspection Service to aggressively investigate those who use the US Mail in support of their criminal activities.”
 
Participating HIDTA law enforcement agencies are encouraging the public to report suspicious drug trafficking activity to AKtips, which can be done quickly online while remaining anonymous. Just download the AKTips smartphone app for iOS or Android. Alternatively, you can submit a tip securely by texting the keyword AKTIPS, followed by your crime tip to 847411.
 
Funding for the Alaska HIDTA Initiative is designated through the US Office of National Drug Control Policy. The Alaska HIDTA program, designated in May 2018, is spread throughout the state, and includes partnerships between local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies. More information about the Alaska HIDTA Initiative and participating agencies can be found at akhidta.org. Read More

Public Safety Academy Graduates 34 New Law Enforcement Officers

November 15, 2024 (Sitka, AK)— In a graduation ceremony today in Sitka, Alaska, 34 new law enforcement officers received their badges after completing the rigorous Alaska Law Enforcement Training Academy. A video recording of the graduation ceremony is available on the Alaska State Troopers Facebook page.

"These new officers represent the future of law enforcement in Alaska," said Lt. Governor Nancy Dahlstrom. "I am confident that they will uphold the highest standards of professionalism and integrity, and I wish them all the best as they embark on their careers."

Graduating recruits completed more than 1,000 hours of training over the course of 17 weeks of basic Alaska Law Enforcement Training. Recruits received intensive instruction in law enforcement-related topics, use-of-force and de-escalation, physical fitness, and many scenario-based exercises designed to prepare entry-level police officers and Troopers for successful careers in Alaska law enforcement.

"Having successfully completed our rigorous training program, these new officers are now prepared to serve and protect our communities,” said Alaska Department of Public Safety Commissioner James Cockrell. “Their dedication to public safety will undoubtedly enhance the security and well-being of all Alaskans. We are proud to welcome them to the law enforcement family.”

Graduates include:

  • Trooper Kyler Anderson, Alaska State Troopers

  • Officer Jorell Anievas, Anchorage Airport Police and Fire

  • Trooper Adam Belliston, Alaska State Troopers

  • Trooper Anthony Bigari, Alaska State Troopers

  • Trooper Nicholas Blanchard, Alaska State Troopers

  • Trooper Tyler Bosdell, Alaska Wildlife Troopers

  • Trooper William Brennan, Alaska State Troopers

  • Officer Kristoffer Cunanan, Kodiak Police Department

  • Trooper Evan Davis, Alaska State Troopers**

  • Officer Jacob Davis, Anchorage Airport Police and Fire

  • Trooper Julien Dreher, Alaska State Troopers

  • Officer Gavyn Gentry, Anchorage Airport Police and Fire

  • Trooper Georgia Gonzalez-Sudberry, Alaska Wildlife Troopers

  • Officer Marek Grieme, Soldotna Police Department

  • Trooper Wyatt Huston, Alaska State Troopers

  • Trooper Mitchell Keith, Alaska State Troopers

  • Officer Jacob Lewis, Anchorage Airport Police and Fire

  • Trooper Kenan Lousch, Alaska State Troopers

  • Trooper Angelina Martin, Alaska State Troopers

  • Trooper John Maynard, Alaska State Troopers**

  • Trooper Charlotte McNally, Alaska State Troopers

  • Trooper Jeremy Medina, Alaska State Troopers

  • Officer Juliana Osgood, North Slope Borough Police Department

  • Trooper Micah Pletsch, Alaska Wildlife Troopers

  • Deputy Fire Marshal Michael Radgosky, State Fire Marshal’s Office

  • Trooper Carlos Rivas, Alaska State Troopers

  • Trooper Sumitr “Donny” Saetan, Alaska State Troopers

  • Trooper John Simoneau, Alaska State Troopers

  • Trooper Caleb Smith, Alaska State Troopers

  • VPSO Devin Spears, Copper River Native Association

  • Trooper Jacob Stillie, Alaska State Troopers

  • Trooper John Van Diest, Alaska State Troopers

  • Trooper Klay Weeks, Alaska Wildlife Troopers

  • Officer Cody Woods, Juneau Police Department


Trooper recruits will complete one additional week of training focused on Department of Public Safety specific tasks, and other elements of law enforcement unique to the Alaska State Troopers. They will then arrive at their first duty assignments in either Fairbanks, Soldotna, or the Mat-Su Valley, and begin a Field Training and Evaluation Program. If successful, the Trooper recruits will be promoted to the rank of Trooper upon completion of their probationary period, generally 12 months from the start of the academy.

**Lateral recruits attended an abbreviated eight-week academy.
PDF Version of Release

Read More
State of Alaska Department of Public Safety

5700 East Tudor Road
Anchorage, AK 99507
Phone: (907) 269-5511

=