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Tag: fentanyl bust

  • Ohio Cops Find Enough Fentanyl To Wipe Out The Whole State

    Ohio Cops Find Enough Fentanyl To Wipe Out The Whole State

    Authorities also seized 5,000 grams of heroin and 1,500 grams of methamphetamine.

    Even a tiny amount of fentanyl the size of a grain of rice can be fatal, which is why authorities in Ohio were so shocked to seize 20 kilograms of fentanyl during a recent drug bust. 

    Vance Callender, Homeland Security Investigations special agent in charge for Michigan and Ohio, participated in the raid, which included agents from Montogomery County Sheriff’s Office, Ohio Attorney General’s Office, FBI, and Homeland Security Investigations, according to News 5 Cleveland.

    Callender said, “20 kilograms of fentanyl is enough to kill the entire population of Ohio, many times over. As this significant seizure makes clear, HSI and our partners are united in our resolve to protect our communities and our country from the deadly scourge of drug trafficking. We stand ready to use every tool and resource at our disposal to attack and dismantle these organizations from the low-level dealers to the source of supply with our law enforcement partners.”

    A Weapon Of Mass Destruction

    Dave Yost, Ohio Attorney General, that the amount of fentanyl, worth millions, was large enough that it could be thought of as a weapon of mass destruction. He said that the bust highlighted the “enormity of the opioid problem” in his state.

    He added, ”This is an enormous amount of deadly drugs that will no longer be on our streets.”

    At the bust, authorities also seized 5,000 grams of heroin and 1,500 grams of methamphetamine. They recovered about $30,000 in cash and three firearms. 

    Three suspects were charged in connection with the raid: Shamar Davis, 31, Anthony Franklin, 20, and Grady Jackson, 37. They’re facing charges for being felons in possession of firearms and for distributing 400 grams or more of fentanyl.  

    Montgomery County Sheriff Rob Streck said that the men posed a huge danger to the community. 

    “These illegal drugs ruin lives, destroy families, fuel violence, drives up property crime, and wrecks neighborhoods. Anyone associated with it—especially those who sell and traffic it—are doing violence to people and causing harm in our communities,” he said. 

    The Biggest Fentanyl Bust Of The Year

    Although the size of the fentanyl seizure is astounding, it’s not the biggest bust on record. Earlier this year, Customs and Border Protection officials near the Mexican border found more than 100 kilos of fentanyl hidden in a tractor trailer that was also carrying cucumbers, and meth. That seizure, which was made with the help of drug-sniffing dogs, netted fentanyl worth at least $3.5 million, authorities said at the time. 

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • Orange County Sheriffs Seize 18 Pounds Of Fentanyl In Single Bust

    Orange County Sheriffs Seize 18 Pounds Of Fentanyl In Single Bust

    More than 100 pounds of fentanyl have been seized in the OC this year. 

    Sheriffs’ deputies in Orange County, California reported the seizure of 18 pounds of fentanyl, amounting to nearly half of the total amount of fentanyl that OC authorities seized in 2018.

    The bust, which had a reported street value of $1.25 million, was reported by media sources to be enough fentanyl to create “four million lethal doses.”

    Fentanyl-Related Deaths In Orange County Surge

    Though a win for law enforcement, the seizure also underscored the threat posed by fentanyl to Orange County, which has seen a substantial increase in the number of overdose deaths related to the potent synthetic opioid over the last five years.

    According to the Orange County Register, investigators confiscated the fentanyl on October 16, as well as a loaded semi-automatic handgun, five pounds of heroin, a half-pound of methamphetamine, and $71,000 in cash.

    Sheriffs’ deputies also arrested Rudolph Garcia, 60, who was booked on suspicion of possessing fentanyl, heroin and methamphetamine, as well as being a felon in possession of a firearm. He was held on $2 million bail.

    OC Sheriffs Have Seized More Than 100 Pounds Of Fentanyl In 2019

    Los Angeles CBS affiliate KCBS quoted the Orange Country sheriff’s department’s figures regarding fentanyl seizures over the last four years, which have risen from less than a pound in 2016 to 44 pounds in 2018. The October 16 bust raised the total amount seized in 2019 to more than 100 pounds.

    “[The October 16 seizure] was enough fentanyl in one seizure to kill the entire county’s 3.2 million residents three times over,” said Orange County Sheriff Don Barnes. “It’s very dangerous [and] it’s not getting better. It’s getting worse. And I think as a county, as a state and as a country, we have to get out ahead of this.”

    Fentanyl-related overdose deaths have risen sharply in the state of California over the last half-decade, and Orange County is no exception. In March 2019, the Orange County Register quoted the county coroner’s report from 2018, which found that the number of fentanyl-related deaths increased 164% between 2014 and 2016 before jumping another 54% between 2016 and 2017 alone.

    And according to a Facebook post from the Orange County Sheriff’s Department, those numbers skyrocketed between 2017 and 2018, which saw a 149% increase in fentanyl overdose deaths.

    The social media post also noted that the Orange County Crime Lab reported a 101% increase in the presence of fentanyl in various drugs confiscated throughout the county, with 225 drugs found to contain fentanyl in June 2019—again, a staggering increase of 91% from statistics reported in June 2018.

    “The threat this extremely potent drug poses to our community is increasing exponentially, not subsiding,” said Barnes in a statement.

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • Authorities Seize Enough Fentanyl To Kill 14 Million People From Drug Ring

    Authorities Seize Enough Fentanyl To Kill 14 Million People From Drug Ring

    Law enforcement seized 30 kilograms of heroin, five kilograms of cocaine, 24 firearms and over $700,000 in cash in the massive bust.

    More than two-dozen law enforcement agencies descended on a drug-trafficking ring based in Virginia, and seized enough fentanyl to reportedly kill 14 million people.

    Federal prosecutors announced on August 29 that 35 individuals were arrested in Virginia, North Carolina and Texas for their alleged roles in the distribution organization, which was based in Hampton Roads, Virginia. Thirty kilograms of fentanyl, as well as 30 kilograms of heroin, five kilograms of cocaine, 24 firearms and over $700,000 in cash were also seized as part of “Operation Cookout.”

    Co-Conspirators

    Over 120 law enforcement officers were involved in the arrests, which were the culmination of a two-year investigation by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces.

    According to the 108-page indictment, 39 co-conspirators, ages 19 to 63, were allegedly involved in what federal prosecutors described as a “large-scale drug trafficking organization” that began in March 2016.

    The 35 defendants and unindicted co-conspirators purchased narcotics from suppliers on both coasts and in Mexico and then have them shipped to their base of operations in the metropolitan region of Hampton Roads using a variety of transportation vehicles equipped with “hidden traps.” Reportedly, one suspect also requested fentanyl from a dealer in Shanghai, who shipped the drug to them via the U.S. Postal Service.

    Inside The Trafficking Ring

    Prosecutors also alleged that the defendants and co-conspirators used locations throughout the Hampton Roads area to prepare heroin, fentanyl, cocaine and cocaine base for distribution, as well as to meet and discuss future narcotics sales and distribution. 

    The co-conspirators reportedly used at least 94 different communication devices, pre-paid cell phones, as well as encrypted apps like FaceTime, to arrange locations for selling and buying drugs, as well as other “day-to-day operations,” as the indictment noted. 

    The 35 defendants arrested in Operation Cookout were charged with 106 counts of alleged offenses, including conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribution cocaine, heroin, cocaine base and fentanyl; conspiracy to launder money; felon in possession of a firearm; interstate travel in aid of racketeering enterprises; and illegal re-entry by a previously deported or removed alien.

    The indictment only alleged that the defendants committed a crime, and are presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.

    “This massive interdiction of narcotics, which included enough fentanyl to kill over 14 million people, is proof positive of the power and strength of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies,” said G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. “This operation, through its seizure of scores of kilograms of illicit narcotics, saved lives in the Eastern District and elsewhere. Any day where we can do that is particularly meaningful and impactful.”

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • Border Patrol Makes Historic Fentanyl Bust

    Border Patrol Makes Historic Fentanyl Bust

    Almost $5 million worth of fentanyl and meth were seized.

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    In the reportedly biggest-ever Border Patrol fentanyl bust, agents in Arizona seized more than 250 pounds of the powerful narcotic hidden away in the secret compartment of a truck carrying cucumbers from Mexico.

    The haul of more than 400 packages of drugs included $3.5 million of the high-powered opioid and $1.1 million—nearly 400 pounds—of meth, according to Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

    A drug dog at the Nogales port of entry sniffed out the narcotics on January 26, when a 26-year-old driver tried passing through with his truckload of produce. A secondary inspection uncovered a special compartment in the floor of the trailer, where would-be traffickers had hidden the pricey stash totaling nearly 650 pounds. 

    The fentanyl bust was the largest in the history of the CBP while the meth seizure was the third-largest at an Arizona port of entry.

    The bust came one day after President Trump announced an end to the federal government shutdown that left thousands of government employees furloughed or temporarily working without pay.

    “I want to express my gratitude to the CBP officers involved in this case and Nogales personnel who selflessly perform their duties with dedication, vigilance, and professionalism,” said Nogales Area Port Director Michael Humphries. “This past weekend our CBP officers were able to stop an enormous amount of these deadly narcotics from hitting our streets.” 

    The driver was arrested and turned over to Homeland Security officials, who charged him with two counts of possession with intent to distribute. He is currently in federal custody, though authorities have not identified him.

    The Mariposa commercial crossing sees more than 1,500 trucks per day during the busy winter produce season, when millions of pounds of fruits and vegetables are shipped over the border every day. The size of Saturday’s bust was a surprise, authorities said, even at a high-volume port in the region that typically nets the most seizures of the addictive drug.

    “Normally, the southwest border ports are intercepting the most fentanyl, compared to other ports of entry, airports, seaports, the northern border,” said Guadalupe Ramirez, who oversees all Arizona border crossings, according to USA Today. “In CBP, in the history of CBP, this is the largest fentanyl seizure.”

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • Police Seize Enough Fentanyl To Kill 26 Million People

    The record-breaking seizure was one of the biggest fentanyl busts in US history.

    Nebraska State Patrol managed to seize 118 pounds of fentanyl during a routine traffic stop.

    According to estimates by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, this was enough fentanyl to kill 26 million people. This estimate is based on the fact, according to the DEA, that just two milligrams of the drug is enough to kill a person.

    On April 26, state troopers became aware of a suspicious semi-truck driving on the shoulder of Interstate 80. After pulling the truck over, troopers searched the vehicle and found the record-breaking stash in a hidden compartment. 

    At first glance, the troopers thought they had found a formidable mound of what was probably mostly cocaine. Testing of the drug was delayed because of the “dangerous nature of the substance,” as some drugs, including fentanyl, are dangerous if touched and absorbed into the skin or accidentally breathed in.

    It was fortunate they took such precautions, because testing revealed that all 118 pounds were fentanyl. This bust was the largest the state of Nebraska had ever seen, and is among the largest in the country, announced Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts.

    The driver and passenger of the truck, 46-year-old Felipe Genao-Minaya and 52-year-old Nelson Nunez, were arrested for possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver. Authorities estimate the product they were hauling was worth more than $20 million.

    Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid, is anywhere between 50 and 100 times stronger than morphine and 30 to 50 times stronger than heroin.

    The drug has exacerbated the opioid crisis and has been involved in a few high-profile deaths, including Prince and Tom Petty. Petty was found unconscious in his home and was rushed to the hospital in full cardiac arrest. An autopsy revealed that among the drugs in his system, fentanyl featured prominently.

    In Prince’s case, neither he nor those close to him knew he was taking fentanyl. Everyone involved thought the pills were Vicodin, but they were actually fentanyl-laced counterfeits, according to an investigation.

    Kellyanne Conway, who was entrusted by the Trump administration with the task of tackling the opioid crisis, suggested that fentanyl addiction and deaths could be avoided if people opted for junk food as their vice instead.

    “I guess my short advice is, as somebody double your age, eat the ice cream, have the french fry, don’t buy the street drug,” Conway said. “Believe me, it all works out.”

    View the original article at thefix.com