CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WVDN) – During a press conference on Thursday, Governor Patrick Morrisey announced two major initiatives focused on combating drug-related crime and strengthening immigration enforcement to make West Virginia’s streets safer.
Historic Fentanyl Seizure in Mercer County
Governor Morrisey announced one of the largest fentanyl busts in state history. Law enforcement officials seized:
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54 pounds of suspected fentanyl, enough to kill over 12 million people, or the population of West Virginia seven times over.
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70 pounds of suspected crystal meth.
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23 pounds of marijuana.
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15 firearms.
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3 brick presses.
The estimated street value of the fentanyl alone is $825,000.
“Thanks to the incredible work of our law enforcement officers, these dangerous drugs were kept off our streets,” said Governor Morrisey. “This was a months-long investigation that shows how serious our drug crisis is and how aggressively we’re fighting back.”
The bust was executed on September 10, 2025, by the West Virginia State Police, the Southern Regional Drug Task Force, and the Appalachia High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA).
Thirty-seven Arrests By ICE and State Police Over 11 Days
In addition to the drug bust, Governor Morrisey announced that the West Virginia State Police, in coordination with Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has apprehended 37 illegal immigrants in the past 11 days. Twenty-seven arrests were made at traffic stops along the West Virginia Turnpike, and 10 were made at DUI checkpoints.
“At the beginning of my administration, I made a promise to work with President Donald Trump, Secretary Kristi Noem, and the Trump Administration to enforce our nation’s immigration laws,” said Governor Morrisey. “Under President Biden, we saw millions of people unlawfully enter this country, undermining our rule of law, endangering our communities, and fueling the drug crisis that has devastated West Virginia.”
Governor Morrisey emphasized that every state, including West Virginia, has felt the impact of the border crisis and reiterated the state’s commitment to law and order. Earlier this year, the Governor signed an executive order directing the West Virginia Department of Homeland Security, West Virginia State Police, and Division of Corrections to fully cooperate with ICE and implement President Trump’s immigration enforcement directives.
Since September 21, 2025, the Governor announced that West Virginia State Police has arrested 37 individuals in the country illegally through enhanced enforcement efforts. Of those, 27 were arrested by the State Police Parkways Interdiction Team during traffic stops on the West Virginia Turnpike, and 10 were arrested at DUI checkpoints.
“These arrests happened in just 11 days,” said Governor Morrisey. “This is proof that the problem is far more widespread than some want to admit.”
“ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Philadelphia, to include the West Virginia sub-office, is proud to highlight the continued success of the 287(g) partnership with state and local authorities,” said ERO Philadelphia Acting Field Office Director, David C. O’Neill. “West Virginia’s law enforcement community has demonstrated exceptional professionalism and steadfast cooperation, allowing specially trained officers to identify and process removable aliens who enter local custody for a wide range of criminal offenses. This collaboration has measurably strengthened public safety by ensuring that those individuals that pose a threat to West Virginia residents can be transferred to ICE custody via a safe and secure custodial transfer and subsequently removed from the United States.”
The Governor also provided updates on the West Virginia Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation (DCR), which has played a critical role in supporting ICE. Since January, more than a thousand immigration detainees have been processed through West Virginia’s corrections system. Since August 12, 2025, 355 detainees have been booked through DCR facilities.
