{"id":167067,"date":"2023-09-15T23:12:19","date_gmt":"2023-09-16T06:12:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/?p=167067"},"modified":"2023-09-15T23:12:19","modified_gmt":"2023-09-16T06:12:19","slug":"attorney-general-bonta-announces-seizure-of-more-than-485000-fentanyl-pills-in-fresno-county","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/?p=167067","title":{"rendered":"Attorney General Bonta Announces Seizure of More Than 485,000 Fentanyl Pills in Fresno County"},"content":{"rendered":"

Fresno, CA…California Attorney General Rob Bonta and the California Highway Patrol (CHP) today announced a joint operation in Fresno County resulting in the felony arrest of a suspect and the seizure of more than 150 pounds of narcotics, including 485,000\u00a0fentanyl\u00a0pills disguised as oxycodone and 45 pounds of cocaine. The arrest is the result of a traffic stop on September 8, 2023, by a CHP officer and subsequent investigation by the California Department of Justice (DOJ). The suspect was booked into the Fresno County Jail on charges of possession of cocaine and\u00a0fentanyl\u00a0for sale, and the transportation of cocaine and\u00a0fentanyl\u00a0across noncontiguous counties. The case will be prosecuted by the Fresno County District Attorney\u2019s Office.<\/p>\n

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\u201cI am grateful for the work of our partners at the California Highway Patrol for their collaboration to get these illicit and dangerous drugs off our streets,\u201d\u00a0said Attorney General Bonta.<\/b>\u00a0\u201cWhether through the seizure of illicit\u00a0fentanyl through our ongoing enforcement efforts or by bringing California billions of dollars through our\u00a0lawsuits\u00a0and investigative efforts\u00a0to hold the opioid industry accountable, the California Department of Justice is all-in when it comes to protecting California families from the dangers of\u00a0fentanyl. I want to thank our\u00a0teams and\u00a0our\u00a0law enforcement partners across the state\u00a0for their work in taking\u00a0fentanyl\u00a0off our streets and out of California communities. There are countless lives being saved as a result of their important and difficult work.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWorking with our law enforcement partners throughout the state is critical to the success in our mission of removing illegal narcotics from our streets,\u201d\u00a0said CHP Commissioner Sean Duryee<\/b>. \u201cMeaningful collaboration is the key to achieving our common goal of creating safer, drug-free communities for all of California.”<\/p>\n

The High Impact Investigation Team (HIIT) is a\u00a0California DOJ Bureau of Investigation-led multiagency task force,\u00a0federally funded through\u00a0the national High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) program. It is comprised of members from the California Department of Justice, California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation-Special Services Unit,\u00a0\u00a0Fresno County Sheriff’s Office, Madera County Sheriff\u2019s Office, Kings County Sheriff\u2019s Office, Tulare County Sheriff\u2019s Office, Fresno Police Department, Fresno County District Attorney’s Office,\u00a0California Highway Patrol, and Federal Bureau of Investigation.\u00a0As part of DOJ\u2019s task force program, the participating agencies of HIIT work in collaboration to combat drug trafficking organizations, violent career criminals and gangs.\u00a0These unique and essential teams use the latest technology and advanced investigative techniques and work alongside local, state, and federal law enforcement to enhance investigations into violent criminals and organized crime throughout the state.<\/p>\n

Images from the seizure can be found here:\u00a0Image 1<\/a>,\u00a0Image 2<\/a>.<\/p>\n

It is important to note that a criminal complaint contains charges that are only allegations against a person. Every defendant is presumed innocent unless or until proven guilty.<\/em><\/p>\n

Attorney General Bonta\u00a0continues DOJ\u2019s work with local, state, and federal partners to:<\/p>\n