Over 720K Fentanyl Pills Seized In San Diego County

SAN DIEGO, CA — Authorities seized more than 720,000 fentanyl pills last week in San Diego County, the California Attorney General's Office announced Wednesday.

More than 150 pounds of fentanyl pills contained in 110 packages were found inside a vehicle Friday in Alpine, according to the Attorney General's Office. The driver was arrested and the drugs were seized as part of a joint operation conducted by federal and local law enforcement.

Attorney General Rob Bonta said the "massive bust" was the largest fentanyl seizure since the Department of Justice's Fentanyl Enforcement Program and the multi-agency Fentanyl Abatement and Suppression Team Task Force partnered in 2022.

"I am grateful for the work of our special agents and law enforcement partners in getting these illicit and dangerous drugs off our streets," Bonta said.

"Whether through the seizure of illicit fentanyl through our ongoing enforcement efforts or by bringing California billions of dollars through our lawsuits and investigative efforts to hold the opioid industry accountable, the California Department of Justice is all-in when it comes to protecting California families from the dangers of fentanyl," he said. "There are countless lives being saved because of this important and difficult work."

The driver was arrested and charged with transportation of a controlled substance for sale, with additional sentence-enhancing allegations regarding the amount and weight of the drugs that were seized, according to a complaint filed in San Diego County Superior Court.