Crime & Safety
Woman, 19, Suspected Of Selling Fentanyl Pills: Coachella
Kiana Camarena was taken into custody in the 84000 block of Via Durango.
COACHELLA, CA — A 19-year-old Coachella woman was arrested Thursday on suspicion of selling fentanyl pills, the Riverside County Sheriff's Department announced.
Kiana Camarena was taken into custody around 9:30 a.m. in the 84000 block of Via Durango but was released on $50,000 bail the same day, according to jail records.
During a search warrant service at the arrest address, Gang Task Force officers found a bag containing several hundred fentanyl pills, the sheriff's department reported.
Find out what's happening in Palm Desertfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
The Riverside County Sheriff's Department and the District Attorney's Office announced a crackdown on fentanyl suppliers earlier this year. Read more here: RivCo DA Files First-Ever Murder Charge Against Fentanyl Dealer
The inexpensive synthetic opioid can be lethal and is used in counterfeit pills meant to mimic prescription medications sold on the black market. Fentanyl is also used in illicit narcotics, law enforcement has warned.
Find out what's happening in Palm Desertfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
The county is on track to have 500 to 600 fentanyl deaths this year, according to District Attorney Mike Hestrin.
Jail records show Camarena is due in court in January.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
