CHP seizes $1.7 million in fentanyl, arrests three in Central Valley drug busts

[Lauren Taylor]

AUTHORITIES IN CALIFORNIA CONTINUE TO HIGHLIGHT THE PERSISTENT EFFORTS OF CRIMINALS TO DISTRIBUTE FENTANYL.

THIS WEEK WE LEARNED OF SIGNIFICANT SEIZURES ON INTERSTATE FIVE IN THE CENTRAL VALLEY.

CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY PATROL OFFICERS MADE TWO CRITICAL TRAFFIC STOPS RESULTING IN THE SEIZURE OF 120-THOUSAND FENTANYL-LACED PILLS AND 11 POUNDS OF FENTANYL VALUED AT ONE-POINT-SEVEN-MILLION-DOLLARS.

IN ONE OF THESE STOPS, ON OCTOBER 3RD IN FRESNO COUNTY, A C-H-P CANINE UNIT WAS ALERTED OF NARCOTICS HIDDEN IN A COOLER.

INSIDE THE COOLER, AUTHORITIES DISCOVERED PACKAGES OF RAW BEEF USED TO CONCEAL 11 POUNDS OF FENTANYL, WORTH ABOUT 500-THOUSAND-DOLLARS. 

THE SUSPECT, A RESIDENT OF WASHINGTON STATE, WAS ARRESTED AND BOOKED ON FELONY CHARGES.

AND JUST A DAY LATER, IN MERCED COUNTY, ANOTHER C-H-P CANINE OFFICER MADE A DISCOVERY–120-THOUSAND FENTANYL-LACED PILLS AND TWO HANDGUNS DURING A ROUTINE TRAFFIC STOP IN LOS BANOS. TWO MORE SUSPECTS, ALSO FROM WASHINGTON STATE, WERE ARRESTED ON MULTIPLE FELONY CHARGES.

THESE OPERATIONS ARE PART OF CALIFORNIA’S BROADER EFFORT TO COMBAT THE FENTANYL CRISIS, WITH GOVERNOR NEWSOM RAMPING UP ENFORCEMENT AND PREVENTION MEASURES, INCLUDING EXPANDING THE NATIONAL GUARD’S COUNTERDRUG TASK FORCE. 

SINCE JANUARY, THE TASK FORCE HAS SEIZED OVER FIVE-THOUSAND POUNDS OF FENTANYL POWDER AND NEARLY TEN-MILLION PILLS.

FOR MORE STRAIGHT FACT REPORTING, DOWNLOAD THE STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS APP.

FOR SAN, I’M LAUREN TAYLOR