BP seizes 5,000 tablets of opioid worth $538,000

Two people were arrested and 5,000 tablets of fentanyl with a street value of about $538,000 were seized by Yuma Sector Border Patrol Agents on Wednesday.

According to a U.S. Customs and Border Protection news release, at approximately 11:50 p.m., Blythe Station Integrated Targeting Team agents performed a vehicle stop on a 2009 silver Nissan Altima traveling on Interstate 10 near Quartzsite.

After searching the vehicle, agents discovered the fentanyl disguised as oxycodone, the release states.

A 35-year-old Mexican national and a 31-year-old female United States citizen, both residing in Los Angeles, were arrested and will be charged with the smuggling of narcotics, officials with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection said.

Both the fentanyl and the vehicle were seized.

“The opioid crisis continues to be a national public health emergency,” Daniel Parra, the Blythe Station Patrol Agent in charge, said in a statement. “Today’s seizure represents the contribution and commitment by the United States Border Patrol, specifically the Blythe Border Patrol Station, to combat this threat by disrupting the illicit fentanyl supply chain.”

According to the DEA. gov website, fentanyl is a synthetic opioid 30-50 times more potent than heroin and 50-100 times more potent than morphine. Additionally, the release states that as little as two milligrams may be lethal for most people.