Governor Dunleavy to Introduce Bill Cracking Down on Illicit Fentanyl, Drug Dealers

Governor Mike Dunleavy today announced that he will present the Legislature with a crime bill next session to target the fentanyl crisis in Alaska. Earlier this year, Governor Dunleavy tasked his Administration with developing strategies to protect Alaskans from the scourge of fentanyl and fentanyl-laced illegal opioids. This announcement is the first part of a holistic approach to combatting this epidemic.

Under Governor Dunleavy’s proposal, if a person dies as a result of ingesting a controlled substance, the individual that sold or distributed that controlled substance can be charged with Murder in the Second Degree (which is an unclassified felony with a sentencing range of 15 – 99 years). Additionally, an individual sentenced to a drug dealing-related crime will have their eligibility for “good time” parole restricted.

“Public safety has and will continue to be our number one priority. These drug dealers are killing Alaskans with illicit fentanyl and fentanyl-laced illicit opioids,” said Governor Dunleavy. “We need to use every tool at our disposal to hold these dealers accountable to the fullest extent possible. By increasing criminal penalties and eliminating good time credit for dealers of illicit drugs, our prosecutors can do better.”

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