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In a major victory against the opioid epidemic ravaging the nation, federal and local law enforcement agencies in San Diego announced the largest fentanyl bust in the region’s history last week.
The coordinated operation resulted in the seizure of over 1.2 million fentanyl pills and the arrests of 16 individuals suspected of running an intricate drug trafficking ring.
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department spearheaded the months-long investigation, dubbed “Operation Pill Pusher.”
According to DEA Special Agent in Charge John W. Callery, the operation dealt a “crippling blow” to a criminal organization responsible for flooding San Diego and neighboring counties with deadly fentanyl-laced counterfeit pills.
The sheer volume of fentanyl pills seized in this operation is staggering,
Callery stated during a press conference on Friday.
“We’re talking about enough lethal doses to kill every man, woman, and child in San Diego County multiple times over.“
The investigation uncovered a sophisticated drug trafficking network stretching from Mexico into Southern California. The criminal syndicate allegedly manufactured fentanyl-laced counterfeit oxycodone pills in clandestine labs south of the border before smuggling them into the United States for distribution.
These pills were designed to look like legitimate pharmaceuticals, but they were actually poison,
Callery warned.
One pill can kill – and we’ve seized over a million of them.
In addition to the 1.2 million fentanyl pills, authorities seized 834 pounds of fentanyl powder, 25 firearms, and over $1.3 million in cash and asset seizures during the operation. The 16 suspects arrested face a range of charges, including drug trafficking, money laundering, and possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking.
The bust comes amid a devastating surge in fentanyl-related overdose deaths across the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), synthetic opioids like fentanyl were involved in over 70,000 overdose deaths in 2022 – a staggering 23% increase from the previous year.
Fentanyl is driving the deadliest drug crisis in American history,
said San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan.
“This operation has undoubtedly saved countless lives by taking these lethal pills off our streets.”
Local and federal authorities lauded the cooperation between agencies that made the massive bust possible. The investigation involved the DEA, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California, and multiple local law enforcement agencies.
Our unified front against these criminal organizations is our greatest strength,
said U.S. Attorney Randy Grossman.
“We will continue to work tirelessly to disrupt and dismantle drug trafficking operations that fuel addiction and destroy lives in our communities.”
As the nation grapples with the fentanyl crisis, the San Diego operation serves as a reminder of the ongoing efforts by law enforcement to combat the influx of deadly synthetic opioids. However, authorities acknowledge that the battle is far from over, and continued vigilance and inter-agency collaboration will be crucial in stemming the tide of this deadly drug.
