United States Drug Enforcement Administration

ST.LOUIS - The Executive Board of the Midwest HIDTA has recognized Omaha DEA's Task Force Tactical Diversion Squad with the 2013 Outstanding Prescription Drug Investigative Effort Award for 2013.  This award is given to the initiative or group that exhibits outstanding investigative results in utilizing the cooperative spirit and tenets of the HIDTA Program in the disruption of drug trafficking organizations involving the diversion of controlled prescription drugs.

In March 2012, the III Corps Drug Task Force, (NE) Police Dept., (NE) Police Dept., Nebraska State Patrol and the DEA Tactical Diversion Squad in Omaha, began investigating a Fremont, Nebraska business owner suspected of trafficking the powerful painkillers oxycodone and hydromorphone in the region.  The investigation uncovered that conspirators were found to have made many trips to as many as five states across the country to obtain prescriptions by fraud from various pain clinics. These prescriptions were brought back to the Omaha area and filled. This organization also visited local physicians and received additional prescriptions for huge amounts of powerful, addictive prescription narcotic painkillers.

While the case remains ongoing and specific details cannot be released, the investigation has revealed that this drug trafficking network has obtained at least 30,000 doses of these prescription narcotics.  Thirty individuals have been indicted and are awaiting adjudication.  This case has had a significant impact on the illegal retail distribution of these prescription drugs in the Omaha Metro area and the most significant pharmaceutical case that DEA Omaha has ever investigated.

DEA and its partners look forward to releasing more specific case information when appropriate.