An alleged fentanyl trafficker, Michael Edward Flores, was arrested in Arcadia with nearly 40 pounds of the drug, valued at approximately $1.3 million, officials announced Thursday.
The arrest followed a long-term investigation by the California Department of Justice. Flores was apprehended while transporting fentanyl and cocaine, according to California Attorney General Rob Bonta.
The seized drugs, suspected to have originated in Mexico, included over 37 pounds of powder fentanyl, equating to more than 8.5 million doses, along with 2.2 pounds of cocaine and a handgun. Flores faces multiple charges, including possession for sale of a controlled substance, transportation of a controlled substance, and possession of a controlled substance while armed, as per a felony complaint filed on April 28 in Los Angeles Superior Court.
Attorney General Bonta emphasized the state’s commitment to tackling the fentanyl crisis, stating, “If you traffic fentanyl, we will find you, we will prosecute you, and we will hold you accountable to the fullest extent of the law.” He highlighted the broader goal of confronting the fentanyl epidemic that has affected families nationwide.
Since April 2022, the California DOJ has seized nearly 17.3 million fentanyl pills and over 7,000 pounds of powder fentanyl, resulting in more than 620 arrests related to the drug. The Fentanyl Enforcement Program, established in 2023, continues to identify and dismantle distribution networks across California.
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