Knudsen Continues Efforts To Reduce Drug Use In County, State

During a tour stop in Roosevelt County, Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen said his office continues to work on decreasing the use of fentanyl throughout the state.

Knudsen reports that there was a 2,000 percent increase in fentanyl seizures in Montana from 2019 to 2023. During the first six months of this year, the percentage is down by 80 percent.

“That tells me the efforts at the southern border are working,” Knudsen said.

He said the amount of violent crimes has decreased in the state for the last two and a half years. When asked, he said the state’s figures don’t include crimes on the reservations because tribes don’t provide those reports. Knudsen said, if the tribes provided the information, the state would include them in the reports.

The former Roosevelt County attorney said that when he was in the county, dangerous drugs were arriving in the area from organized crime in Detroit, Mich. He also noted there’s a pipeline from Washington state through Interstate 94 and Amtrak.

Knudsen reminds area residents that the State of Montana doesn’t ever have criminal jurisdiction over tribal members on the reservation.

“It’s frustrating that we don’t have any criminal authority,” Knudsen said. “This is a matter of black letter federal law. The U.S. Congress could fix this but, at this point, they have not. The Montana Legislature can’t fix it.”

If residents wish to change this federal law, they should contact their congressional representatives.

When a major crime occurs on a tribal reservation, primary criminal jurisdiction belongs to the federal government.

Knudsen says a crackdown on Mexican cartels would decrease drug activity, and he notes that President Trump has made things tougher on the cartels.

“It would have a positive effect,” Knudsen said.

Across the state, meth seizures have increased. It also seems that heroin and cocaine are making comebacks.

More positive family environments could help in the battle against addictions.

“People are turning to drugs because of hopelessness for sure,” Knudsen said. “It’s an escape.”

Possible positive news is that Knudsen feels the FBI might benefit from increased funding in the near future. The result might be more agents dedicated to Montana.

“The FBI has been looking at the crime rate in Montana and especially Indian Country,” Knudsen said. “I feel it will happen quickly.”