$1.6M Worth Of Fentanyl Seized, Man Arrested During Cobb Traffic Stop

COBB COUNTY, GA — More than $1 million worth of fentanyl was seized and a Smyrna man was arrested Monday after a joint operation in Cobb County, authorities said Wednesday.

The seizure came after a month-long drug investigation and weeks-long surveillance involving the Marietta/Cobb/Smyrna Narcotics Unit, the Cobb County Sheriff's Office said.

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Officers conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle at an unknown location, and during the stop, a police K9 alerted to drugs inside the vehicle, authorities said.

When officers searched the vehicle, authorities said they found a gun and about 11.43 kilograms (more than 25 pounds) of suspected fentanyl. A positive field test confirmed the suspicion, authorities said.

The drugs have a street value of about $1.65 million, authorities said.

"Fentanyl is an extremely potent synthetic opioid that is estimated to be up to 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine. Seizures of this magnitude play a critical role in protecting the community from overdose deaths and disrupting the illegal drug trade," authorities said in a news release.

Akira Garcia Mondragon was arrested on charges of trafficking fentanyl and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony - controlled substance, authorities said.

Cobb County Jail records on Thursday showed the arrest took place at Veterans Memorial Highway and Maxham Road in Austell.

Jail records showed Mondragon was additionally charged with driver exercise due care, a misdemeanor. He remained incarcerated without bond, according to jail records.

"Fentanyl is one of the most dangerous drugs our communities have ever faced," Cobb County Sheriff Craig Owens said in the release. "An amount comparable to a few grains of salt can be enough to take a life. By removing more than 25 pounds of fentanyl from our streets, our investigators potentially prevented countless tragedies and saved lives throughout Cobb County and beyond."