$20M Fentanyl Bust Is Largest In California History

LOS ANGELES, CA — Federal agents made history in Los Angeles County this month when they seized about $20 million in counterfeit pills containing fentanyl, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration announced Thursday.

The raid, which took about 1 million fentanyl-laced pills off the street, was the largest fentanyl-seizure in state history, and it likely will mean fewer overdose deaths this summer, according to the DEA.

"This massive seizure disrupted the flow of dangerous amounts of fentanyl into our streets and probably saved many lives," said DEA Special Agent in Charge Bill Bodner.

"The deceptive marketing coupled with the ease of accessibility makes these small and seemingly innocuous pills a significant threat to the health and safety of all our communities," Bodner said. "A staggering number of teens and young adults are unaware that they are ingesting fentanyl in these fake pills and are being poisoned."

Overdose deaths by people who ingest pills unknowingly laced with fentanyl have skyrocketed in Southern California, claiming the likes of rapper Mac Miller. In June, health officials sent warnings to parents in Los Angeles County after three teenage girls overdosed in a Santa Monica after snorting crushed-up tablets they believed to be ecstasy, but turned out to be laced with fentanyl.

According to the DEA, the probe targeted a Los Angeles-area drug trafficking organization believed to be linked to the Sinaloa Cartel. The investigation, which began in May, involved the DEA Los Angeles Field Division Group 48, the DEA New York Division Tactical Diversion Squad and the Hawthorne Police Department.

"During the investigation, DEA agents identified Southern California narcotic couriers and stash house managers who were responsible for distributing narcotics to other drug distributors in the area," the DEA reported.

A federal search warrant was executed on July 5 at an Inglewood residence, and resulted in the seizure of about 1 million counterfeit pills containing fentanyl, the DEA reported.

The fake pills were intended for retail distribution, and have an estimated street sale value of $15 million to $20 million, the DEA reported.

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The greater Los Angeles area is a major trans-shipment hub where illegal drugs coming from the southwest border are stored in local warehouses, storage units and residential properties, the DEA reported.

The bulk shipments of drugs are usually broken down into smaller quantities and transported to other states or distributed to local dealers. The greater Los Angeles area has many international airports, freeways and bus and train lines that make it easy for shipments to be smuggled to other destinations.

The investigation into the drug trafficking organization is ongoing.

"Criminal drug networks in Mexico are mass-producing illicit fentanyl and fake pills pressed with fentanyl in filthy, clandestine, unregulated labs," according to a statement by the DEA. "These fake pills are designed to look like real prescription pills right down to the size, shape, color and stamping. These fake pills typically replicate real prescription opioid medications such as oxycodone(Oxycontin®, Percocet®), hydrocodone (Vicodin®), and alprazolam (Xanax®); or stimulants like amphetamines (Adderall®).

In 2021, the DEA offices in the greater Los Angeles area seized over 3 million fentanyl pills, which
was nearly a three-fold increase from the previous year. In the first four months of 2022, DEA Los
Angeles have seized approximately 1.5 million fentanyl pills, which is a 64% increase over the same period last year.

City News Service contributed to this report.