The Vermont State Police say 26 people have been arrested in northern Vermont on heroin- and opiate-trafficking related offenses.
The Orleans County arrests were announced Tuesday in Newport following a seven-month investigation.
Police say the charges varied and included sale of heroin, sale of crack cocaine and aiding in the commission of a felony.
Law enforcement reported 21 drug overdoses in Orleans County, including three fatal ones, last year. But police say there were more since most non-fatal overdoses are not reported to authorities.
Police also say Vermont is seeing an increase in heroin laced with the powerful painkiller fentanyl or pure fentanyl being sold as heroin.
Copyright The Associated Press
