In late September, the Riverside County Police seized 21 kilos of carfentanil from a home in Perris. Carfentanil, a tranquilizer used for large animals like elephants and horses, is 100 times stronger than fentanyl and 10,000 times stronger than morphine. The police also found 20 kilos of cocaine and a kilo of heroin. If the carfentanil had been mixed with other drugs, it could have killed more than 50 million people. But both defendants, Andres Jesus Morales and Alyssa Christine Ponce, have plead not guilty at their arraignment and are still in custody while awaiting their next court appearance.

The Issue with Carfentanil

Carfentanil is a synthetic opioid that is more potent than fentanyl and morphine, even when cut with other illicit drugs like heroin or cocaine. The existence of carfentanil in the United States drug markets is more than likely to cause an increase in overdoses and subsequent deaths among opioid-tolerant users. In fact, there has been a 38% increase in overdoses since June 2019 because of the introduction of synthetic opioids into these markets.

That means that any individual who is used to taking opioids may attempt to take a dose of carfentanil, or another drug cut with it, to get a better high or feel more relief. This dose can cause them to overdose and potentially die. Additionally, because carfentanil is so potent, accidental overdoses can happen even if a small amount is inhaled or absorbed through the skin, making it a significant problem for law enforcement or emergency medical technicians who are first on the scene.

As such, the Department of Justice has been cracking down on drug-related offenses. If you or someone you love has been accused of a drug-related offense, it is imperative that you have experienced legal counsel working on your side. For help today, call the Sigal Law Group at (818) 325-0570 to schedule a free consultation.