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| -Lurid Crime Tales- | |
| Federal agents make huge seizure of fentanyl in Arizona, enough to kill every American plus | |
| 2023-06-05 | |
With an unknown volume of fentanyl and other drugs pouring through the southern border between ports of entry in Arizona, federal agents recently seized enough fentanyl to kill more than 450 million people at several ports of entry and checkpoints. Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection Office of Field Operations-Tucson Field Office agents working through “Operation Blue Lotus,” and Border Patrol Tucson and Yuma Sector agents working through “Operation Four Horsemen” seized substantial amounts of methamphetamine and over a ton of fentanyl. The operations occurred from March 6 to May 8 at four ports of entry and at two checkpoints. With two milligrams considered a lethal dose, one ton of fentanyl, or 2,000 pounds, is enough to kill 453,592,400 people. The operations’ success was “attributed to the federal, state and local partners that spent countless hours not just by responding to port calls but assisting HSI with seizures throughout Arizona,” Department of Homeland Security Investigations Arizona Special Agent in Charge Scott Brown said when announcing the bust. “Drugs, but especially fentanyl, are decimating communities. But together and with education, we all can make a significant impact in curbing the senseless deaths associated with the sale of these deadly drugs,” he said. As a result of their efforts, county attorneys are prosecuting alleged offenders and nine cases were referred for federal prosecution. Among the federal cases, those charged allegedly attempted to smuggle drugs into the U.S. at ports of entry or made it through and were stopped at checkpoints. Or they picked up drugs from others who made it across the border undetected and were caught at checkpoints. The drivers were all heading north, authorities said. Single vehicles stopped held enough fentanyl to kill tens of millions of people. At the DeConcini Port of Entry in Nogales, a driver and passenger were apprehended for attempting to smuggle 156 packages of pills that field-tested positive for fentanyl hidden in their vehicle. Weighing over 200 pounds, the pills were enough to kill over 45.3 million people. Also at the DeConcini POE, another driver, accompanied by a minor child, was apprehended after 65 packages that field-tested positive for fentanyl were found hidden in the vehicle. Weighing nearly 103 pounds, the drugs were enough to kill 23.3 million people. Also in Nogales, another driver was apprehended for attempting to smuggle 236 packages that field-tested positive for fentanyl. Weighing over 415 pounds, they were enough to kill over 94.1 million people. At the Mariposa Port of Entry in Nogales, a driver was apprehended after agents found 73 packages that field tested positive for fentanyl hidden in the quarter panels and seats of the vehicle. Weighing over 119 pounds, they were enough to kill 27 million people. Also at the Mariposa Port, another driver and passenger were apprehended after agents found 588 packages hidden in their vehicle that field-tested positive for fentanyl. Weighing nearly 163 pounds, they were enough to kill 73.8 million people. At the Lukeville Port of Entry, a driver with two minor children in her vehicle was apprehended after officers found 32 packages that field-tested positive for fentanyl hidden inside the vehicle. Weighing over 73 pounds, they were enough to kill 16.5 million people. At the San Luis Port of Entry, another individual, also with minors in the vehicle, was apprehended after 201 packages of suspected drugs were found hidden in the vehicle doors. They included 131 packages that field-tested positive for fentanyl. Weighing nearly 85 pounds, they were enough to kill 38.5 million people. At a checkpoint near Amado, another driver and her passenger were apprehended. Agents found a trap door in the vehicle, which led to a hidden compartment where 114 bundles that field-tested positive for fentanyl were hidden. Weighing over 30 pounds, they were enough to kill nearly 7 million people. At a checkpoint near Wellton, a driver was apprehended after agents found 16 vacuum-sealed packages containing small blue pills hidden inside the vehicle’s tailgate and in a spare tire that field-tested positive for fentanyl. Weighing over 137 pounds, they were enough to kill over 31.2 million people. Federal agents working with the Arizona Department of Public Safety also interdicted crates of .50-caliber ammunition bound for Mexico. As law enforcement agents have explained to The Center Square, people and drugs are smuggled north into the U.S.; weapons, cash and other contraband are smuggled south. Chief Patrol Agent of the Yuma Sector Patricia McGurk-Daniel said, “The success of the Four Horsemen operation was due to the collaborative efforts and teamwork of multiple agencies.” She said she was “especially proud of the Yuma Sector Border Patrol agents who worked tirelessly during this operation to take deadly drugs off our streets and out of the communities we proudly serve.” | |
| Posted by:Skidmark |
| #11 :-) Mine is a conclusion from evidence seen here in recent years, Glung Glanter8834, not superior knowledge. No doubt someone else here in comments or in an op-ed said the same before us. |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2023-06-05 17:50 |
| #10 Re #9. I commented too soon. I didn't see trailing wife's comment until after submitting my question/comment. Thank you for the info |
| Posted by: Glung Glanter8834 2023-06-05 16:29 |
| #9 When I hear about Chinese and fentanyl, it reminds me of the Brits, China, and opium addiction (as per the years before Mao per #7). Are the Chinese today treating the US as the Brits once treated them? |
| Posted by: Glung Glanter8834 2023-06-05 16:15 |
| #8 Ah, Mao... That's one dictator who could make the rickshaws run on time. And the people still venerate him. How screwed up are the Chinese? |
| Posted by: Regular joe 2023-06-05 15:59 |
| #7 China had a terrible problem with opium until 1949 when Mao seized power and murdered all of the addicts. Drastic action is necessary but I'm not sure we have to resort to murdering our own citizens. I'd prefer a declaration of war on China and Mexico. |
| Posted by: Abu Uluque 2023-06-05 11:59 |
| #6 Our enemies both foreign and domestic are getting in clearer focus. |
| Posted by: JohnQC 2023-06-05 11:11 |
| #5 China doesn’t seem to have a fentanyl problem. Maybe we can just export the fentanyl to another country we want to destroy. |
| Posted by: Super Hose 2023-06-05 09:40 |
| #4 As long as you keep reviving the addicts the problem and indirect exposure issues will only grow. |
| Posted by: Procopius2k 2023-06-05 08:26 |
| #3 Remember the old conjecture that the real cause of the fall of the Roman Empire was drinking water from lead pipes? Spurious, I know, but it gets you thinking. |
| Posted by: M. Murcek 2023-06-05 06:44 |
| #2 I'm sure at this point it's in the water supply with the estrogen and benzodiazepines. |
| Posted by: M. Murcek 2023-06-05 06:43 |
| #1 Alarming Trend: Most Americans Unaware They're Ingesting Deadly Fentanyl |
| Posted by: Skidmark 2023-06-05 06:28 |