Hit-And-Run Suspect Had 'Enough Fentanyl to Kill Over 30K People': FHP

WESLEY CHAPEL, FL — A man is facing several charges after authorities say he was involved in two hit-and-run crashes and had enough fentanyl to kill more than 30,000 people.

The Florida Highway Patrol said Thursday authorities arrested Afranur Rahman, 29, of Temple Terrace, on Wednesday.

Authorities first began investigating Rahman after two related hit-and-run crashes involving a white Dodge Challenger with Georgia license plates, the FHP said. Authorities identified Rahman as the driver of the Challenger, a rental.

The first crash happened in a fast-food restaurant's parking lot near the intersection of Bruce B. Downs Boulevard and State Road 54 in Wesley Chapel, the FHP said.

The driver of a white GMC Sierra mistakenly hit the Challenger as they were leaving the parking lot, the FHP said. The driver of the GMC then returned to the parking lot; however, authorities said Rahman was "angry and hostile, causing the driver of the GMC to leave in fear of further altercation."

Afterwards, the GMC headed west on SR-54, authorities said. While stopped under the Interstate 75 bridge, authorities said Rahman followed and showed a gun "in a manner which caused the driver of the GMC to be in fear for his life."

Rahman was accused of then continuing to chase the GMC as it headed east on SR-54 onto Oakley Boulevard, where authorities said the GMC driver pulled into the Grove Plaza and met with officers.

"At some point during the pursuit of the GMC, (Rahman) hit a silver Ford F250 and continued traveling after the GMC without stopping," the FHP said in a news release.

When questioned, Rahman told authorities he followed the GMC because it fled the scene of the crash, and he also told them that he did not have a gun in the vehicle, authorities said.

Rahman's passenger told authorities that the Challenger was rented under Rahman's name and that they solely had a phone and wallet in the vehicle, authorities said.

The passenger added "that they believed that the other vehicles had crashed into them, and they had not hit any other vehicle," authorities said.

While searching the Challenger, troopers found a backpack behind the driver's seat that carried $4,103 in cash, a cell phone, two wrapped items that were later confirmed to be fentanyl weighing 66.7 grams, a bottle of codeine weighing 136.5 grams and a 9-mm gun, the FHP said.

When a tow truck arrived, a trash bag was found in the Challenger's trunk that contained water bottles and a package with five pounds of marijuana inside of it, the FHP said.

Authorities said Rahman was arrested and charged on suspicion of:

• Ownership, lease, rental, or possession of structure or vehicle for trafficking in or manufacturing a controlled substance.
• Trafficking in fentanyl 4 grams or more
• Possession of drug equipment
• Aggravated assault with deadly weapon without intent to kill
• Marijuana possession with intent to sell, manufacture or deliver
• Possession of a controlled substance without prescription
• Improper exhibit firearm or dangerous weapon
• Possession of a firearm or ammunition by a convicted felon

Rahman was taken to the Pasco County Jail, the FHP said.