Heroin overdoses in northern MN prompt warning of deadlier drugs

State investigators are asking for public help tracing the origin of a potent form of heroin suspected in dozens of overdoses across northern Minnesota.

The Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and the state Department of Public Safety met with local law enforcement in Bemidji Wednesday to draw attention to heroin use.

Last month, four people overdosed on heroin in Beltrami County. One of those victims died. Investigators are still running tests on the drugs, but suspect a batch of fentanyl-laced heroin might be to blame for the overdoses.

State Office of Justice Programs gang and drug coordinator Brian Marquart said Bemidji is not alone in Minnesota. Over the last few weeks heroin overdoses killed seven people and put dozens more in the hospital. He said those overdoses were clustered in Hibbing, Detroit Lakes, Cass Lake, and other northern Minnesota communities.

Marquart said 18 pounds of heroin was seized by Minnesota law enforcement last year. That's more than $1 million worth, roughly three times the amount seized in 2012.

"Forty percent of that was seized in northern Minnesota," he said.

BCA special agent Sue Burggraf is investigating the recent heroin overdoses — hoping to follow the supply chain to the dealers.

"We're treating these overdose deaths as homicide investigations," she said. "And when we find those dealers, we intend to charge them with third degree murder."

Much of the heroin coming into Minnesota is brought from Detroit or Chicago and law enforcement has found some also contains potent narcotics like fentanyl. Burggraf said her office is building cases against several suspected dealers, but evidence is in short supply.

"When someone dies of an overdose," she said, "we lose a witness."