There is a growing drug overdose crisis in California and across the United States involving the substance fentanyl. This highly dangerous drug is being sold online and is often disguised as less dangerous drugs.
Police and prosecutors are working to stem the tide of fentanyl overdoses by apprehending those they believe manufactured and sold the drug. Last month one alleged fentanyl kingpin was indicted and arraigned on narcotics and firearms charges.
Alleged fentanyl kingpin indicted
An alleged California fentanyl kingpin has been indicted and has been arraigned for allegedly selling millions of pills containing the synthetic opioid on the darknet.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California stated that the accused obtained bulk amounts of the drug, operated drug labs to manufacture fake oxycodone pills with fentanyl in them, and then sold the pills to thousands of people using nine darknet marketplaces.
He faces narcotics and weapons charges that could lead to a life sentence in prison.
What is fentanyl?
Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid. It was originally developed to relieve pain experienced by cancer patients. It is 50 to 100 times more powerful than morphine.
However, some people add fentanyl to other drugs such as heroin in order to make the drug more potent. Users do not know there is fentanyl in the heroin, which can lead to an overdose. Fentanyl overdoses can be fatal.
California will not hesitate to prosecute those who manufacture and sell fentanyl. The aim of these arrests is to curb the growing fentanyl crisis in the state.
Still, those charged with drug crimes are innocent until proven guilty and have the right to a fair trial before an impartial jury.