NORWICH – The Norwich Police Department collected three 35-gallon containers and two garbage bags full of prescription drugs Saturday as part of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency’s “National Take Back Initiative.”

Police Chief Joseph Angelino said 61 citizens visited the department and dropped off a wide range of prescription narcotics valued well into the thousands of dollars if sold illegally on the street.

“Simply put, the program was a great success for us,” said Angelino.

Police across the country participated in the first-ever national take-back day providing an opportunity for the public to surrender expired, unwanted, or unused pharmaceutical controlled substances to law enforcement for disposal.

Angelino said the Norwich Police collected a large volume of drugs given the area’s population. For instance, the City of Utica Police Department called its initiative a success Monday after having about half as many participants turn over a smaller volume of drugs.

“The DEA provided us with three boxes and we filled all three of them along with two garbage bags,” said Angelino.

Detective Michael Purdy said the department received about 120 pounds of material which was taken by the DEA over the weekend for destruction.