The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) made a significant announcement on Monday, revealing their successful seizure of approximately 670,000 counterfeit pills in Colorado and New Mexico.
Officials credit a tip from New Mexico for leading them to a man in Colorado Springs who stands accused of trafficking approximately 340,000 fentanyl pills. Additionally, the tip resulted in the seizure of an extra 330,000 pills in Albuquerque.
A vigilant citizen reported two suspicious individuals traveling by bus to Denver, prompting immediate action from officials. The men appeared visibly nervous, and upon investigation, one of them hastily fled the scene, leaving behind two large suitcases.
The Albuquerque Police Department promptly intervened and took possession of the abandoned luggage. After obtaining a search warrant, authorities discovered around 330,000 counterfeit pills and two ounces of heroin concealed within the suitcases.
According to officials, the Denver-bound bus was carrying a second man who had two additional suitcases with him. The Colorado Springs Police Department was notified, and they successfully tracked down the man and his bags. Inside the suitcases, authorities discovered around 340,000 counterfeit pills and several thousand dollars in cash.
According to DEA Rocky Mountain Field Division Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Pullen, the amount of fentanyl pills confiscated in this particular case is nearly sufficient to distribute one counterfeit pill to every individual residing in the city of Denver.
Last year’s total number of fake pill seizures in Colorado was surpassed by this single seizure, accounting for approximately 25% of the entire year’s seizures.