publish time

29/09/2023

author name Arab Times

publish time

29/09/2023

Bronx fentanyl bust.

NEW YORK, Sept 29, (Agencies): A drug trafficker carrying a suitcase filled with a lethal amount of fentanyl was apprehended in the Bronx, New York. Juan Gabriel Herrara Vargas, 42, was arrested just blocks away from a Bronx daycare where a 1-year-old child recently died due to fentanyl exposure. Vargas was allegedly transporting 13 kilos of fentanyl, equivalent to potentially lethal doses for about 6.5 million people. The Bronx has seen a significant increase in overdose deaths, with a rate of 73.6 per 100,000 residents.

Vargas, who had fraudulent identification documents, was apprehended after exiting a subway station carrying a black-and-tan suitcase filled with fentanyl. A subsequent search led to the discovery of another suitcase containing 50,000 glassine containers of the drug, totaling over 40 pounds. Even small amounts of fentanyl can be deadly.

Fentanyl has become a major contributor to overdose deaths in New York City, with an 80% detection rate in overdose cases. Mayor Adams is planning a fentanyl summit to address the issue. Vargas faces charges of operating as a major trafficker, criminal possession of a controlled substance, and using drug paraphernalia.