South Dakota authorities seize about 20K fentanyl pills

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) - A 19-year-old South Dakota man is accused possessing 20,000 fentanyl pills with intent to distribute them in a case that sent one officer exposed to the drug to the hospital.

Attorney General Marty Jackley said in a statement Wednesday the officer treated for exposure has been released from the hospital. Jackley says the street value of the fentanyl seized Tuesday in Chamberlain is $500,000.

The attorney general says Trevor Harden has been charged with one count of possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute. It wasn't immediately clear if Harden has a defense attorney to comment on his behalf.

Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid drug much more powerful than heroin. The federal Drug Enforcement Administration has warned law enforcement nationwide about the dangers of improperly handling fentanyl and that even a small amount absorbed through the skin can be deadly.

(Copyright 2017 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

6/14/2017 10:30:21 AM (GMT -6:00)