Fentanyl drug elimination: investigators seize enough fentanyl to kill 14 million people

The law enforcement officers in Virginia seized enough fentanyl to kill 14 million people, thus destroying an extensive network of drug traffickers made up of three states as part of what they called "l? Cookout operation ". Thirty-five suspects have been arrested and four others are on the run.

"This opioid crisis is not a problem that occurs elsewhere or at any one – it is happening right here in Norfolk," said G. Zachary Terwilliger, US Attorney for Eastern Europe. District of Virginia.

In total, authorities seized more than 30 kilograms of fentanyl, 30 kilograms of heroin, five kilograms of cocaine and more than $ 700,000. It's the biggest drug intake in Virginia for 15 years. They also seized approximately 24 firearms, including an AK-47.

"We are not talking about $ 500 and $ 600 deals, we are talking about hundreds of thousands of dollars," Terwilliger said. "You know, $ 20,000 in the trunk of someone's car in a gym bag, you know, behind a local restaurant."

Terwilliger said the bust covered three states and that one of the 39 people charged had ordered fentanyl in Shanghai and had it delivered to Virginia by mail.

"The last thing we want is for the US postal service to become the country's biggest drug trafficker," he added.

Hampton Police Chief Terry Sult said the case should serve as a warning to other dealers. "If you use firearms, you treat drugs and you hurt people in our communities, that's the group of people who take on you," he said. "And we are relentless."

At the same time, the coastguard announced Thursday that the crew of cutter Robert Ward had seized approximately 2,800 pounds of cocaine during their first drug patrol in the eastern Pacific Ocean. Cocaine was worth about $ 38.5 million.

Terwilliger said most fentanyl comes from Chinese laboratories. Increased efforts have been made to hold China accountable for drugs such as fentanyl, manufactured in that country and smuggled into the United States. A bipartisan bill in the Senate would sanction the Chinese laboratories and traffickers who export the drug.