Overview
- California’s Department of Justice investigation, which culminated Thursday, led to an Arcadia arrest tied to a major fentanyl trafficking case.
- Agents seized 17 kilograms of powder fentanyl, an amount estimated as 8.5 million potentially lethal doses worth at least $1.3 million, nearly one for each Los Angeles County resident.
- Officers also recovered one kilogram of cocaine and a handgun during the operation after stopping the suspect while transporting the drugs.
- Prosecutors filed counts for possession for sale, transportation of a controlled substance, and possession while armed, and they noted the defendant is presumed innocent.
- Authorities said the shipment was believed to originate in Mexico and framed the case as part of the DOJ’s 2023 Fentanyl Enforcement Program, which works with local, state, and federal partners and has reported about 17.3 million pills seized, 7,167 pounds of powder, and more than 621 arrests since April 2022.