Operation Orange Bottle: Racine County sheriff releases information into large-scale drug operation
RACINE -- Saving lives one pill and person at a time. The Racine County Sheriff's Office revealed developments on Friday, May 20th in a large-scale drug operation that had been going on since last fall.
From the tables and hands of drug dealers, straight to the hands of the youth and users in the community.
"When you're getting a buck, a gram, it's very lucrative," said Racine County Sheriff Christopher Schmaling.
Sheriff Schmaling says these suspects were getting big business, but they are now paying the price themselves.
"These are the faces of those who are destroying families and ultimately ending lives. They are selling these medications and in doing so are creating scores of more addicts in our community who later unfortunately turn to heroin," said Schmaling.
To date, fifty individuals have been identified and are facing charges. Many have been booked, some are still pending and those blacked out have agreed to work with law enforcement. All were caught because of "Operation Orange Bottle," initiated by the Racine County Metro Drug Unit and the Milwaukee Drug Enforcement Administration.
This investigation focused on street level opiate dealers in the area illegally selling prescription drugs like oxycodone, hydrocodone, Adderall and Xanax.
"We take this extremely seriously and they are going to be dealt with appropriately," said Racine County District Attorney Rich Chiapete.
Rich Chiapete
Chiapete says these illegal drugs breed other criminal behavior.
"It may spill over to burglary, thefts or robberies because people who are using have to support their habit somehow," said Chiapete.
The large-scale operation also addressed doctors and their role.
"We contacted many of these doctors to inform them their patients who they prescribed to are in fact selling their prescriptions," said Schmaling.
Schmaling hopes that by focusing on life saving, education and enforcement, opiate distribution can be drastically reduced.