Ohio officials announced Tuesday the seizure of enough fentanyl in one bust to kill more than four million people.
The 20 pounds of synthetic opioid with a street value of $3.6 million were recovered by the Miami Valley Bulk Smuggling Task Force, which is part of the Ohio Attorney General’s Ohio Organized Crime Investigations Commission.
Four suspects were arrested on drug trafficking charges: Aguilar Reyes-Espinosa of New Carlisle, Ohio, Omar Cantu-Garcia of Nuevo Leon, Mexico, David Cantu-Garcia of Nuevo Leon, Mexico, and Pedro Medina, of Nuevo Leon, Mexico. Authorities also seized about $100,000 in cash and a large stash of marijuana.
“We are certain that this investigation has saved lives by stopping this poison from getting to the streets and into the hands of those fighting addiction,” said Ohio Attorney General DeWine. “Each day, my office and law enforcement agencies across the state are fighting hard against the drug epidemic, and we must continue to press forward in the battle against the drug cartels.”
“The amount of fentanyl seized in this case is enough to kill millions of people,” said Steve Francis, Homeland Security Investigations special agent in charge of Michigan and Ohio. “There is no doubt that a significant seizure like this one has saved the lives of many Ohioans. HSI is a proud partner of the Miami Valley Bulk Smuggling Task Force and is committed to the incredible work that is being done on behalf of the residents of Ohio.”
The Miami Valley Bulk Smuggling Task Force, which includes local, state and federal officers and prosecutors, has seized 79 pounds of fentanyl, 122 pounds of heroin, 219 pounds of cocaine, 110 pounds of methamphetamine, 4,134 pounds of marijuana, and more than $7 million in U.S. currency since its inception 2013.
