OMAHA, Neb. (KMTV) — Several Nebraska State Patrol (NSP) members are being honored by the Midwest High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) program for seizing drugs in the state.
Trooper Sam Mortensen was presented with the Midwest Region Interdiction Award of Excellence. Mortensen was was involved in several interdiction cases including one near Kearney, believed to be the largest fentanyl seizure in U.S. history at the time, that resulted in the seizure of of 118 pounds of fentanyl.
The Executive Director of Midwest HIDTA said, "Fentanyl is the scourge of today,” speaking on Mortensen’s efforts in 2018. “The things you do out there on the roads can positively impact so many other people down the road."
Investigators with the NSP Commercial Interdiction Unit (CIU) based out of Omaha, were also honored for efforts in the area. In 2018 the CIU made more than 100 drug-related arrests and seized hundreds of pounds of drugs as well. The Midwest Region Outstanding Interdiction award was presented to the unit for their actions.
