An illegal immigrant pulled over for speeding in Nevada allegedly had enough fentanyl in his truck to kill millions, federal prosecutors say.
Francisco Joel Garcia Farias, 26, now faces federal drug-trafficking charges after a Lincoln County sheriff’s deputy stopped his pickup on a rural highway and a narcotics detection dog alerted to the vehicle, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Nevada.
Inside, authorities say they found 13 large storage totes packed with approximately 30 pounds of suspected fentanyl and 677 pounds of suspected methamphetamine, a combined haul of more than 700 pounds.
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"The massive scale of this seizure underscores the staggering volume of illicit narcotics flowing into our communities from transnational criminal organizations," said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada.
"Fourteen kilograms of fentanyl alone represents approximately seven million potentially lethal two-milligram doses — enough to kill more than twice the population of Nevada — and, when combined with over 650 pounds of methamphetamine, represents an estimated street value of approximately $2 million," Chattah said.
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Based on that lethal-dose estimate, the fentanyl could potentially kill nearly twice the population of Los Angeles, everyone in Indiana or roughly the entire population of Paraguay.
"These staggering quantities reflect a blatant disregard for human life, driven purely by profit," Chattah said.
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The Justice Department identified Garcia Farias as an illegal immigrant in its announcement of the charges.
The bust began Oct. 13 on U.S. Highway 93 near Ash Springs, Nevada, where a deputy saw the pickup traveling above the posted speed limit, according to prosecutors’ account of the criminal complaint.
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After the dog alerted, deputies searched the truck and uncovered numerous vacuum-sealed packages inside the totes.
Authorities recovered approximately 187 packages of a white crystalline substance weighing about 307.22 kilograms, along with 13 brick-shaped packages weighing approximately 14 kilograms. Field tests of selected samples were positive for methamphetamine and fentanyl, respectively, prosecutors said.
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U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche said the seizure kept a potentially deadly drug supply off American streets.
"Anyone who plans to release a deadly drug like fentanyl onto American streets will be prosecuted," Blanche said. "Thanks to the diligent work of federal and local law enforcement, the lethal drugs allegedly possessed by this illegal alien are no longer endangering the lives of countless Americans."
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The investigation involved Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office and Homeland Security Task Force partners.
"The suspected fentanyl and methamphetamine seized in this case represent an extraordinary threat to public safety," said John A. Condon, executive associate director of HSI.
"Through close coordination with the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our Homeland Security Task Force partners, HSI will continue to identify, investigate and hold accountable those who profit from poisoning Americans and endangering our communities," Condon said.
Lincoln County Sheriff Derek Foremaster credited his deputies’ traffic enforcement and the trained dog with uncovering the suspected narcotics.
"The allegations in this case underscore the serious threat illicit narcotics pose to rural communities and the traveling public," Foremaster said.
"I am proud of the vigilance and professionalism demonstrated by our deputies, whose proactive traffic enforcement and trained K-9 deployment led to the identification of suspected narcotics and a coordinated response with Homeland Security Investigations."
Garcia Farias is charged with possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of a mixture containing fentanyl and possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture containing methamphetamine.
If convicted, he faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison and a maximum of life on each count, followed by five years of supervised release, according to prosecutors.