ALPENA — The Huron Undercover Narcotics Team (HUNT) released its 2025 annual report and presented it to the Alpena City Council on April 20, showing the success of their drug operations.

In 2025, HUNT gained a new commander, Michigan State Police (MSP) D/Lt. Ray Rollet, after the retirement of former commander MSP D/Lt. Stu Sharp. They began 2025 with two detectives and by the end of the year had a fully trained team.

“When we started 2025 we were down to basically two detectives,” Rollet said. “We basically have a full team now and I think they are doing an excellent job targeting drug traffickers in the area.”

“(The year) 2025 was a year of significant change for HUNT, with the transition of a new team commander, new section commander, and virtually a new team with the addition of two MSP trooper detectives and one Alpena Police detective,” Rollet states in the annual report. “During this time, the members have coalesced into a highly functioning, energetic, enthusiastic and motivated group. HUNT is showing exceptional teamwork, not only as a unit, but with all local agencies. We have also partnered with other multi-jurisdictional teams to not only work cases but also train together.”

The HUNT detectives have been trained through the MSP undercover narcotics school where they receive training in investigative techniques and how to work on complex cases.

They also go through surveillance school where they learn covert surveillance techniques and raid entry school which teaches safety techniques for executing search warrants and arresting suspects.

There are a number of other trainings that focus on more specific skills, like one training where detectives learn what to do if they come across a drug conversion lab and how to dismantle it safely, Rollet said.

The report lists the two main goals of HUNT: to disrupt the availability of illegal drugs, specifically heroin, fentanyl, cocaine, methamphetamine, and prescription opiates and to provide other agency assistance/awareness and public awareness.

There were 85 total investigations in 2025, three more than in 2024.

The highest percentage of investigations took place in the City of Alpena and Alpena County. A total of 41% of investigations took place in the city, and 23% took place in the county in 2025. HUNT covers the four county area of Alpena, Alcona, Montmorency, and Presque Isle.

Alpena has the highest number of investigations due to a higher population density, Rollet said.

In 2024, 80% of HUNT’s drug cases involved methamphetamine. In 2025, that number fell to about 30% to 35%, according to a chart in the annual report. Methamphetamine is still significantly higher on the chart than other types of drugs.

“I wouldn’t say it’s trending down,” Rollet said. “There’s been a large increase in cocaine seizures as well. There is still definitely a problem in the area with people seeking and using methamphetamine.”

In total in 2025, HUNT made 85 arrests with 38 individuals arrested.

HUNT issued 10 search warrants and made 12 searches based on consent/probable cause. A total of 10 firearms were seized. HUNT seized $7,500 worth of vehicles and $3,708 in currency. They made $654 in forfeiture proceeds.

HUNT seized $165,201 worth of drugs in 2025, most of that value coming from methamphetamine and cocaine. In 2024, they seized $32,697 worth.

HUNT detectives seized approximately 799 grams of cocaine and 769 grams of methamphetamine. That 799 grams is valued at $79,930 and the 769 grams is valued at $76,951.

“The drugs being sought in the area, the majority of them are stimulants, and that is both meth and cocaine,” Rollet said.

The annual report highlights seven cases that detectives handled in 2025.

One in Alpena County included a bust of 425 grams of cocaine and crack and $2,646 in currency. The total value of drugs seized in that case was $48,780.