MONTANA — Drug seizures in Montana are painting a mixed picture heading into 2026.
According to a release by Attorney General Austin Knudsen, cocaine seizures doubled and methamphetamine seizures jumped 133 percent in the first quarter of the year compared to the same period last year, while fentanyl seizures saw a slight decrease.
Knudsen said anti-drug task forces are still focused on keeping illegal drugs out of Montana communities as trafficking patterns changed.
“Fentanyl and other dangerous drugs continue to threaten communities and the battle against the cartels that are bringing them into our state is far from over. Montana’s anti-drug task forces continue to aggressively target drug traffickers and adapt to changing trends,” Knudsen said. “The Montana Department of Justice remains committed to seizing illegal drugs before they reach our communities.”
State data from the Rocky Mountain High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area showed task forces seized 30,179 dosage units of fentanyl through the first quarter of 2026. That was down from 31,506 dosage units during the same time last year.
The same data showed cocaine seizures rose to 14 pounds from seven pounds. Methamphetamine seizures climbed to 130 pounds from 26 pounds.
The attorney general’s office said those numbers came from six Montana task forces that include agents from the Department of Justice Narcotics Bureau and Montana Highway Patrol Criminal Interdiction Teams. The office said the figures did not include every drug seizure statewide but were used to show broader trends.
From January 1 through July 6, Montana Highway Patrol reported its Criminal Interdiction Team seized more than 70 pounds of methamphetamine, 23 pounds of marijuana, $43,557 and 35 weapons, Knudsen said.
The State Crime Lab reported 13 fentanyl-linked fatal overdoses and 16 methamphetamine-linked fatal overdoses so far in 2026. The office said those counts were not statewide totals because the lab only verified deaths involving an autopsy.
Knudsen’s office also pointed to prevention work this year, including the Drug-Free Montana Tour and statewide Opioid Overdose Prevention Summits.
The office said Knudsen also backed Senate Bill 261 during the 2025 legislative session. The measure allows prosecutors to charge adults with endangering the welfare of a child if dangerous drugs were found in their possession while a child was present.