$570M Worth Of Drugs Won't Hit Market After Huge Bust

NORTHBOROUGH, MA – A massive drug bust that resulted in the seizing of 50 kilograms of a fentanyl precursor chemical with a potential street value of more than $570 million was announced Friday by the DEA New England Field Division and the United States Attorney’s Office. The bust occurred May 25 at a storage facility in Northborough.

Federal agents and officers from around Northborough, Westborough and Worcester seized what is believed to be N-Phenethyl-4-piperidinone (NPP), which is commonly used in the manufacturing of powerful synthetic opioid fentanyl. Fentanyl is 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine.

Those 50 kilograms of NPP could produce up to 19 million fentanyl tablets, which would then be worth more than $570 million, officials said. (Want to keep up on local news? Subscribe to Northborough Patch or like us on Facebook!)

Officials believe this is the DEA's largest seizure of a fentanyl precursor in the New England region in recent years.