3500 Deadly Fentanyl Pills Seized By Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office Counterfeit Oxycodone Was Laced With Highly Toxic Substance.
Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office detectives seized 3500 counterfeit oxycodone pills laced with Fentanyl in a sting on August 30, 2017. They arrested Jesus Madueno (10-15-90) and booked him on felony charges of Possession of Narcotic Drugs for Sale. The MCSO detectives are part of the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Program (HIDTA).
“Fentanyl is highly toxic. This action undoubtedly saved lives. Coming into contact with extremely small amounts can kill you,” said Maricopa County Sheriff Paul Penzone. “The use of Fentanyl compounds the risks to opioid users and to first responders who make contact with it unknowingly.”
Suspect Madueno arranged the sale of 3500 pills to undercover HIDTA detectives. When he arrived at the purchase location, detectives verified his possession of the narcotic and arrested him without incident. Tests on the counterfeit oxycodone were positive for Fentanyl.
Drug traffickers mix fentanyl and other substances with synthetic opioids to multiply the number of pills they sell illegally. Fentanyl was first identified in opioids in the Southeastern and Midwestern U.S. and only recently has appeared in the West. First responders and detectives can counteract its toxic effects with Narcan. MCSO is in the process of acquiring Narcan and training Deputies in its use so that they can protect themselves and give it to opioid overdose victims.
“The opioid epidemic is horrific and when Fentanyl is added to the cocktail it’s even worse,” said Sheriff Penzone. “MCSO is committed through enforcement and education to protecting our communities from those who traffic in these substances.”