The sewer systems in the exclusive getaway of Nantucket, New England, have revealed significant traces of cocaine, according to local authorities. This initiative to test the water systems began over the summer, aimed at tracking potential drug use in this popular and affluent summer destination.
“During COVID, many communities, including ours, realized the importance of testing water to detect COVID spikes,” explained Randolph Rice, a legal analyst and attorney from Maryland. “However, starting this summer, Nantucket has extended these tests to screen for substances like drugs, nicotine, and other items in the water system. The findings have shown a notably high concentration of cocaine.”
The assessments carried out at the Nantucket’s Surfside Wastewater Treatment Facility reported cocaine levels approximately 50% above the national norm, according to data released by local authorities. Conversely, the tests indicated lower-than-average fentanyl levels, a potent synthetic opioid responsible for numerous overdoses nationwide.
Earlier this summer, local health departments announced the inception of their wastewater testing program. The treatment facility on the island serves roughly 75% of the residences, enabling them to monitor “island-wide patterns without pinpointing individual homes or neighborhoods,” thus maintaining privacy while offering insights into the community’s hidden activities.
Xylazine testing came back with results lower than the minimum observable level. Methamphetamine barely registered.
“The discovery of only trace amounts of certain substances is quite surprising,” noted Rice to Fox News Digital. “For instance, there is minimal evidence of fentanyl or xylazine, also known as ‘tranq.’ These substances are frequently mixed into drugs to increase potency, though they can also heighten lethality. Thus, it seems Nantucket’s drugs are unadulterated.”
Back in May, local authorities announced what local outlets described as the largest cocaine-related drug bust in Nantucket history.
The incident led to the arrest of Francisco Fernandez Sanchez, a green card holder from the Dominican Republic, reported Nantucket Current. Authorities found him in possession of over 5 1/2 pounds of cocaine, with an estimated street value of $250,000.
David Katz, a former DEA special agent, told Fox News Digital that the contamination could have come from someone flushing a large amount of drugs to evade authorities.
A general view of the shoreline in Nantucket on Friday, Sept. 27, 2024. (David McGlynn for Fox News Digital)
“We used to shut the water off before we did search warrants because of that same thing,” he said.
Another possibility, he added, would be smaller but frequent flushes from cocaine users as the drug leaves their system in the bathroom.
The latter scenario seems more likely to Rice, he said, because the testing was conducted repeatedly throughout the summer, not just in one go after any particular incident.
“To have consistent days, a consistent test with that level of cocaine spikes, it seems to be that it’s coming from the zip code and the high level of use by its residents and visitors,” he said.
