Three Lynn, Massachusetts, residents have been arrested after law enforcement seized over 220 pounds of controlled substances from a two-bedroom residence.
Over 220 Pounds of Suspected Controlled Substances Seized Including Pills Shaped to Resemble Heart Shaped Candy
Believed To Be One of The Largest Single-Location Seizures in New England
Full Release: https://t.co/qCfOogsXEU pic.twitter.com/ZkTHcIjGn0
— U.S. Department of Justice (@TheJusticeDept) November 6, 2023
Emilio Garcia, 25, Sebastien Bejin, 33, and Deiby Felix, 40, were arrested on November 1. During the authorized search, law enforcement found drug-mixing distribution tools and three loaded firearms inside the basement of the home. It was reported that multiple families and small children were living inside the residence.
The Department of Justice reported that there were at least 10 million doses of drugs seized, including eight million doses of pills and powder laced with fentanyl and methamphetamine.
Investigators also confiscated over 50 pounds of counterfeit Adderall pills that were believed to contain methamphetamine and 280,000 counterfeit Percocet pills believed to contain fentanyl. The counterfeit pills were estimated to be worth around $7 million.
The drugs, which are street valued at $8 million, is considered to be “one of the largest single-location seizures of fentanyl and methamphetamine in New England.
Law enforcement had been surveillancing the three men since July 2023, after the investigation of an overdose death in Salem led them to the trio.
What is more disturbing is that the fentanyl seized looked like pink, heart-shaped Valentine’s Day candy, which can be enticing to children.
Just last year, the DOJ issued a press release warning Americans about drug traffickers creating “brightly-colored fentanyl” to target children.
#ICYMI #DEA #LA on @ABC7 discussing a new trend of multi-colored #fentanyl pills & how the drug cartels are deceptively marketing these dangerous & addictive pills made to look like candy to young people in our communities.
BE AWARE⚠️ Watch 🎥 & Read➡️ https://t.co/PsZXxtDQCL pic.twitter.com/GchzDTkUBx
— DEALosAngeles (@DEALOSANGELES) September 12, 2022
According to the Drug Enforcement Agency, more than 82,000 Americans died due to fentanyl in 2022.
In recent years, the U.S. has faced an opioid pandemic that has been claiming the lives of not only adults but children. It is reported that children ages five and younger have been at an increased risk of overdosing on opiods.
🚨🚨Parents beware
This is getting very scary#DrugsDontDiscriminate#OurChildrenMatter#FentanylKills https://t.co/PqOFbxLloi— 💕🟧AshleighsMama💕🟦🟧 (@MamaHeezy) November 6, 2023
The defendants are set to appear in court on November 13. They are being charged with possession with intent to distribute controlled substances and conspiracy to do the same. If convicted, all three men could be sentenced to up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a hefty fine of up to $250,000.
