Enough Fentanyl to Kill 14 Million Seized in Mulit-State Investigation
by BOB PRICE
BREITBART.COM
3 Sep 2019
Federal authorities seized enough fentanyl to kill more than 14 million people following an investigation that covered Texas, North Carolina, and Virginia. The busts resulted in the arrests of 35 people and the seizure of distribution quantities of fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, and cocaine base. Investigators also found weapons and cash during a three-day operation.
“This massive interdiction of narcotics, which included enough fentanyl to kill over 14 million people, is proof positive of the power and strength of federal, state, and local law enforcement collaboration,” G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, said in a written statement. “This operation, through its seizure of scores of kilograms of illicit narcotics, saved lives in the Eastern District and elsewhere. Any day where we can do that is particularly meaningful and impactful. An incredible thank you to our dedicated law enforcement partners and prosecutors.”
A 106-count federal indictment unsealed on August 29 brings charges against 39 co-conspirators for various alleged criminal acts including conspiracy, armed drug distribution, money laundering, felon in possession of a firearm, interstate travel in furtherance of a racketeering enterprise, and illegal re-entry by a previously deported illegal alien. The multi-agency investigation, dubbed Operation Cookout, involved the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force including investigators from the DEA, IRS, Homeland Security Investigations, the Virginia State Police, and other local law enforcement agencies.
The 108-page indictment details the operation of the conspiracy including dozens of storage facilities, and nearly 100 cell phones used to control the flow of narcotics.
On November 7, 2018, one of the suppliers called suspect Stacy Labaniel Cephas to discuss a distribution problem in Mexico, according to the indictment. The supplier told Cephas that the Mexican cartels “are having a dispute and they are killing off some of the drug smugglers.” The supplier referred to those smugglers as “mules.” The dispute revolved around trying to control the flow of cocaine to New York City. The supplier advised that a kilogram of cocaine in New York City could soon cost $40,000.
Breitbart Texas reports extensively on these types of battles that occur throughout the Mexican drug distribution states located in border states and coastal regions of that country.
The Rest…HERE
