Executive Summary
- The DEA seized 628,000 carfentanil pills during an operation in Los Angeles County in October.
- Carfentanil is a synthetic opioid reported to be 100 times more potent than fentanyl and is used to tranquilize elephants.
- The operation resulted in the arrest of one individual, whose identity has not been publicly released.
- The seizure was described by a DEA special agent as the mitigation of a “catastrophic danger.”
Federal authorities have seized 628,000 carfentanil pills in Los Angeles County, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration announced. The October operation, led by the DEA’s Los Angeles Field Office, resulted in the arrest of one individual whose name has not been released. Carfentanil is a synthetic opioid approximately 100 times more potent than fentanyl and is used commercially to tranquilize large animals such as elephants.
Details of the Seizure
According to the DEA, the majority of the pills were confiscated from a single location within the county. Brian Clark, special agent in charge of the DEA Los Angeles Field Division, described the bust as a “massive seizure” that “mitigated a catastrophic danger.” The operation involved collaboration with local law enforcement partners, including the Vernon and Baldwin Park police departments and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
Background on Carfentanil
Originally developed for veterinary purposes, carfentanil has increasingly appeared in the illicit drug market. Its extreme potency makes it exceptionally dangerous, and officials have linked it to numerous overdose deaths nationwide. Agent Clark issued a stark warning, stating, “Know what you’re taking, because one pill can kill.”
Ongoing Investigation
The investigation remains active, led by the DEA’s Southwest Border Group 1 special agents and task force officers. As the case proceeds, further details may be made available by federal authorities. It is important to note that the arrested individual is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.