California Attorney General, Rob Bonta, along with Merced County District Attorney Nicole Silveira, the California Highway Patrol ?CHP? and the Merced County Sheriff's Office, announced the seizure of 40 pounds of fentanyl and 104 pounds of methamphetamine, worth $4.2 million, as well as the arrest of seven suspects, in two separate cases in Merced County. .
"Across the country, we continue to address the impacts of the opioid crisis, and in recent years, we have seen a marked increase in fentanyl use and associated deaths," said Attorney General Bonta.
The official added that this crisis is a multifaceted public health and safety issue, and addressing it requires a thoughtful and strategic approach.
"Whether by seizing illicit fentanyl through our continued enforcement efforts or bringing billions of dollars to California through our lawsuits and investigative efforts to hold the opioid industry accountable, the California Department of Justice is committed when it comes to protecting California families from the dangers of fentanyl."
Bonta pointed out that there is still much to do, but "we will not rest until we eliminate fentanyl from our streets and from California communities."
The seizures in this case were the result of two separate CHP traffic enforcement stops that were turned over for further investigation to the Merced Area Gang and Narcotics Enforcement Team MAGNET, a task force led by the Merced Bureau of Investigation. from the California Department of Justice.
Thus, on April 25, a K-9 officer from the CHP Central Division stopped a vehicle in Merced County. During contact, a canine was deployed and gave a positive alert for the smell of narcotics, and approximately 104 pounds of methamphetamine and 25 pounds of fentanyl were located inside the vehicle.
Meanwhile, on April 27, 2023, a K-9 officer from the CHP Central Division stopped a vehicle in Merced County. A CHP officer conducted a consent search of the vehicle and 15 pounds of fentanyl was located in the rear passenger floor.
As MAGNET investigators headed to assume leadership of the investigation, the driver fled on foot into the foothills, where he was later apprehended.
The driver and two passengers were arrested and booked into the Merced County Jail on charges of possession of fentanyl for sale and transportation of fentanyl through non-contiguous counties.
Bonta recalled the seizure of more than four million fentanyl pills and nearly 900 pounds of fentanyl powder, as well as more than 200 arrests through the Justice Department's Office of Investigation's work with allied task forces throughout California since April 2021.
As of April 2022, DOJ fentanyl seizures totaled 7,153,083 fentanyl pills seized, 1,094 pounds of fentanyl powder, and more than 200 arrests.
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