Police in Los Angeles captured enough fentanyl in a significant drug seizure this week to possibly kill every city dweller.
Several Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) departments were involved in a narcotics investigation close to downtown Los Angeles, which led to the bust.
On suspicion of selling the lethal synthetic drug fentanyl, the LAPD detained 28-year-old Jose Alberto Soto.
Police in South Los Angeles executed a search warrant after conducting an investigation in the 7500 block of Central Avenue. They discovered almost 50 pounds of powdered fentanyl, almost nine pounds of black tar heroin, and $14,500 in U.S. money.
The Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) estimates that sum to be around $4 million in street value. According to authorities, a potentially fatal amount of 2 mg is sufficient. Considering that, the quantity of fentanyl that was found this week could possibly kill over 11 million people, which is over three times the population of Los Angeles.
Online jail logs reveal Soto is still being held without being granted bail. He might have hired a lawyer to advocate for him, but it was unclear.
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Synthetic opioids like fentanyl can be up to 50 times more potent than heroin and 100 times more potent than morphine. Illicit use has increased over the past ten years, despite its lawful use to aid trauma patients receiving treatment in hospitals.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), fentanyl overdose deaths were close to 75,000 last year. Every day, overdoses involving synthetic opioids like fentanyl claim the lives of roughly 150 people.
The Source: LAPD seizes $4M in fentanyl, enough dosage to potentially kill entire population of Los Angeles
