Investigators with the Columbia Police Department’s (CPD) Organized Crime and Narcotics (OCN) Unit have seized thousands of suspected fake fentanyl pills during a recent traffic stop resulting in the arrest of a Texas couple.
According to Police Chief W.H. “Skip” Holbrook, 52-year-old suspects Loria Ann Leal and Eufracio Rodriguez, Junior are charged with Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl.
Prior to being transferred into federal custody, both suspects were housed at the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center. A judge set a $10,000 surety bond for Leal and a $20,000 surety bond for Rodriguez, Junior. CPD’s law enforcement partner, the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has adopted the case.
Case Recap:
On September 17, 2022 while at the 800 block of Harden Street, the pair was arrested by CPD’s OCN officers, members of North Region’s Community Response Team (CRT) and a K-9 Team.
During the course of the traffic stop investigation, a search of the vehicle resulted in officers locating and seizing approximately 20,000 small round blue pills with an ‘M-30’ imprint in two packages and weighing approximately 5 pounds. The estimated street value of pills is $200,000. Officers also seized $3,250 in cash.
M-30 Pills:
According to the DEA, ‘M-30’ stamped fentanyl pills most commonly appear white or blue and are laced with other illegal drugs such as cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine.
Even in small doses, consumption can be fatal. “M-30’ pills often are typically clandestine manufactured to deceive the public as legitimate prescriptions from a licensed medical professional such as Xanax or Adderall.
Public Health Emergency/Crisis:
According to medical experts, the opioid epidemic is deemed a public health emergency with overdose rates climbing in South Carolina.
So far this year in Columbia, CPD has investigated 12 suspected fentanyl fatalities and 32 fentanyl survivals. In comparison, in 2021, CPD investigated 22 suspected fentanyl fatalities and 15 fentanyl overdose survivals. In both years, CPD officers administered three successful Naloxone/Narcan deployments to victims.
Annual training in the administration of naloxone is done through the Law Enforcement Officers Naloxone (LEON), a statewide effort that makes naloxone available to officers throughout the state and trains them in how to recognize an overdose and administer naloxone to assist an individual until EMS arrives.