The Department of Public Safety’s Division of Narcotics Enforcement, DNE, participated in “Project Synergy,” a nationwide crackdown on synthetic drugs. Recently, 13 DNE agents have assisted in multiple search warrants in Eastern Iowa. DNE Director Steve DeJoode states, “The availabilty and use of these drugs in Iowa has resulted in countless emergency room admissions and the loss of life. It has particularly effects Iowa’s youth and is both an urban and rural problem.”

In addition to the DNE agents, 16 agents, troopers and analysts from the Department of Public Safety’s Division of Intelligence, Division of Criminal Investigation and Iowa State Patrol also participated in this collaborative project. Also, members of the Tri-County Task Force, Johnson County Task Force, Cedar Rapids DEA Task Force and other federal and local partners are working to stop the sale of dangerous synthetic drugs.