San Francisco drug sellers might face homicide expenses for fentanyl overdoses

A partnership between the California authorities and San Francisco might see a number of the metropolis’s drug sellers charged with homicide for overdoses from opioids, together with fentanyl.

The new joint job pressure investigating opioid-linked deaths and poisonings will embrace members of the California Highway Patrol, California National Guard, San Francisco Police Department and San Francisco District Attorney’s Office, per a Friday launch from the workplace of California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat.

Opioid deaths will now be handled as akin to murder.

“The opioid crisis has claimed too many, and fentanyl traffickers must be held accountable including, as appropriate, for murder. This task force is fighting for those affected by this crisis — for victims and loved ones who deserve peace,” Gov. Newsom stated in a press release.

San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins stated in a press release, “Traditionally, overdoses have not been investigated as murders. … we will be able to investigate fatal fentanyl overdoses where evidence may be collected to establish a connection to the person who provided the drugs that killed someone so that they can possibly be charged with murder.”

After California authorities stepped up enforcement within the metropolis beginning on May 1, there have been 40.7 kilos of fentanyl seized and 364 felony and misdemeanor arrests in components of San Francisco recognized for drug crimes, in accordance to the discharge.