LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) – We’re learning about a troubling trend in the Las Vegas Valley, as more and more teenagers are involved in deadly drug deals.
That’s according to Metro PD.
Lieutenant Ailee Burnett of Metro’s Narcotics Section has been with the department for over 20 years. She explains the area is seeing more people killed over marijuana than ever before.
“The black market for marijuana has become extremely dangerous because young people, they’re not able to purchase from a legal dispensary, therefore they are purchasing off the black market,” Lieutenant Burnett said.
She adds the area’s marijuana black market is out of control these days, and the people selling marijuana to teenagers are armed, dangerous, and usually robbing teens when they try to buy it or worse.
“We had a 13-year-old boy that was shot and killed because he tried to steal marijuana vape pens from a drug dealer. We’ve had other teenagers that have tried to do the same thing and have been seriously injured or murdered over just marijuana vape pens.”
Lieutenant Burnett says it’s important to check your teen’s social media accounts, and specifically called out Snapchat, saying her department is noticing the younger crowd buying drugs on the platform.
Here’s what else the narcotics team is noticing. Lieutenant Burnett says it’s extremely dangerous these days to use illicit street drugs because of extremely potent and deadly forms of fentanyl making the rounds, and drug cartels across the border are recruiting locals to move the product.
The product is trafficked through several routes.
“Through our highways, through airports, through the bus system, it’s being trafficked any which way they can find,” Lieutenant Burnett said.
Then there’s the old-fashioned way to send something, and it can have deadly consequences to workers who are just doing their jobs legally.
“People are sending drugs through the mail, unfortunately, and it’s a big danger for employees. It could make somebody very sick, ill, or they could overdose without even knowing,” Lieutenant Burnett said.
Luckily, there is help.
Lieutenant Burnett is noticing more lives are being saved as first responders are administering Narcan which counters the effects of fentanyl.
She worries fentanyl deaths would be much higher without it.
Opioid-related deaths in Clark County rose by nearly 25% from 2020 to 2023, according to the Southern Nevada Health District.
For a list of addiction resources to get help, click the link provided by Metro PD.
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