Knoxville, TN (WOKI / WVLT) Thanks to the 313 Initiative, a law enforcement partnership aimed at stopping drug trafficking from Detroit into the Knoxville area, hundreds of pounds of drugs have been seized.
That, according to the latest report out of District Attorney General Charme Allen’s Office which also cites nearly 500 Initiative-related arrests along with the confiscation of money and weapons since the program launched more than two years ago.
Per the Office, the total number of items seized is as follows:
- Methamphetamine: 145.91 pounds
- Fentanyl/Heroin: 83.97 pounds
- Cocaine/Crack: 7.5 pounds
- MDMA/Prescription Pills: Thousands of dosage units
- Money Seized: $794,057.00
- Guns Seized: 251
- Initiative-Related Arrests: 453
Officials add they believe the work of the 313 Initiative has also contributed to a decrease in overdose deaths.
“In Knox County alone, we believe the work of the 313 Initiative has contributed to the decrease in overdose deaths we saw from 485 deaths in 2023 to 301 deaths in 2024,” said DA Charme Allen. “Between holding drug dealers accountable and providing more treatment opportunities for drug users, our community was able to save 184 lives last year.”
According to Allen, other areas around Knoxville have seen decreases in overdoses as well.
