BUFFALO, NY - A new initative in Erie County to get drug dealers off the streets of Buffalo is making headway.
Crime Stoppers announced rewards up to $2,500 for information that leads to the arrest or indictment of opiate drug dealers, and after just one day, they've already received more than 110 tips, according to coordinator Tim Donovan.
The Erie County District Attorney's office contributed $20,000 from asset forfeiture money to Crime Stoppers Buffalo to help launch the program. Crime Stoppers Buffalo has also committed $25,000.
“In order to stop people from using these addictive opiates, we need to get the drugs and the people who sell them off of the street. We hope that anyone with information on any drug dealer will be inclined to call,” said Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn in a released statement.
“On behalf of the federal government, my message to those who illegally prescribe, sell, or distribute opioids is simple—we will find you and we will lock you up,” said United States Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. “My message to the citizens of Western New York is that neither drug users, nor their families, nor their friends are powerless against this poison. The time for silent suffering is over. Each of us has a voice, and the time has come for us to use our voices to help to save lives. Make your voices heard. Call Crime Stoppers today.”
If you have information on an opiate dealer, you're asked to call the Crime Stoppers Tip Line at 716-867-6161 or submit your tip online here.
You can remain anonymous., and if your information leads to an arrest and/or indictment, you could receive up to $2,500. The amount of the reward is dependent on the severity of the crime.