South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley reported that law enforcement has had an active presence during the ongoing Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. So far, officers have made several dozen arrests related to drug offenses. Jackley noted that the cases range from possession of significant amounts of substances such as methamphetamine, fentanyl, and K2. While these arrests aren’t unusual given the scale of the event, he acknowledged that the 85th anniversary of the rally has drawn large crowds and contributed to a lively, positive atmosphere, with visitors enjoying the Black Hills, warm weather, concerts, and local businesses.
In addition to the drug arrests, Jackley confirmed that law enforcement officials have apprehended one individual in connection with human trafficking. He emphasized that federal, state, and local agencies are working collaboratively and proactively to identify and stop individuals before they can exploit vulnerable children. New legislation—Senate Bill 58, which Jackley sponsored—has recently gone into effect. It aligns South Dakota’s trafficking laws more closely with federal standards and increases the penalties for those convicted.
Planning for the rally’s security began months in advance. Jackley himself was involved in the preparations, making visits to the region, including one the previous week and another on Sunday. Since then, he has remained in the area to oversee efforts. He spoke appreciatively of the strong community support, pointing to a local barbeque event where residents came out in large numbers and expressed their gratitude to officers on the street.
With several hundred thousand attendees expected over the course of the rally, authorities are maintaining a visible and coordinated presence. For comparison, the 75th anniversary saw an estimated attendance of 739,000 people.
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