Part 4/17:
Initially, drug trafficking in Montana was a sporadic, low-profile affair, with traffickers moving through reservations and local routes. However, following the height of the opioid crisis in the mid-2010s, drug prices soared—up to $120 per pill for oxycodone—and cartels recognized lucrative opportunities. The COVID-19 pandemic and border openings accelerated the influx of fentanyl and heroin, further emboldening these criminal entities.