New England’s largest counterfeit prescription pill bust highlights a major law enforcement victory in the battle against drug trafficking.
At a Glance
- Federal officials arrested seven people involved in a counterfeit synthetic opioids operation.
- The DEA reported one of the largest seizures of fake pills in New England.
- A federal grand jury indicted seven suspects from New Haven, West Haven, and Waterbury.
- The counterfeit pills included oxycodone, Xanax, and Adderall containing dangerous substances.
- The investigation was led by the DEA’s Tactical Diversion Squad and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
Federal Arrests and Seizures
Federal officials arrested seven individuals in Connecticut after uncovering one of the largest operations involving counterfeit synthetic opioids ever seen in New England. The DEA conducted the immense intervention, reporting seizures surpassing previous records.
This significant accomplishment is credited to the coordinated efforts by various law enforcement agencies. These arrests took place across New Haven, West Haven, and Waterbury, following a federal grand jury indictment. The raid on these locations revealed hundreds of thousands of counterfeit pills and sophisticated manufacturing equipment.
Counterfeit Pill Operations
The operation was highly organized, utilizing a rented garage in East Haven to press counterfeit pills and distributing them across the nation through the dark web. Evidence revealed that between February 2023 and February 2024, one suspect shipped over 1,300 packages via the U.S. mail.
“These enforcement actions, which included the arrests of seven individuals and the execution of search warrants at six locations, resulted in the disruption of a significant trans-national operation and the dismantling of one of the largest illicit manufacturing sites ever located in Connecticut,” Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge of the Boston Division for the Postal Inspection Service, said in a statement.
The counterfeit pills seized included substances posing severe risks, such as methamphetamine, protonitazene — a synthetic opioid three times more potent than fentanyl — dimethylpentylone, and xylazine. These fakes resembled prescription medications like oxycodone, Xanax, and Adderall, posing significant public health threats.
Continued Combating Against Synthetic Opioids
This bust emphasizes the ongoing threat synthetic opioids present to American public health. U.S. Attorney Vanessa Roberts Avery and DEA Acting Special Agent Stephen Belleau highlighted the importance of continued enforcement efforts and public awareness to combat this epidemic.
“This investigation reveals the constant challenges that we in law enforcement face in battling the proliferation of synthetic opioids in America,” U.S. Attorney Vanessa Roberts Avery said in a statement.
While this operation marks a significant victory, the battle against illicit drug manufacturing and distribution continues. Authorities remain dedicated to disrupting these dangerous networks through sustained law enforcement, public health initiatives, and treatment programs.
