JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – With the growing problem of dangerous fentanyl and other illegal synthetic drugs stealing more and more lives in Jacksonville and across the country, major busts this month by U.S. Customs and Border Protection kept some of those drugs -- destined for Florida and Georgia -- from making it to our streets.
Over a three-week period, from March 6 - March 26, Cincinnati CBP officers seized 83 shipments -- which included over 36 pounds of furanyl fentanyl and 233 pounds of illegal synthetic drugs including bath salts and date rape drugs like GHB.
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Officers stationed at a Cincinnati express consignment facility also found multiple designer drugs such as alpha PVP, commonly known as “flakka” or “gravel,” and N-ethylpentylone, a dangerous stimulant.
Six shipments of the fentanyl were headed to Camden, New Jersey, where they were part of a significant law enforcement operation resulting in the arrest of an alleged dealer and subsequent seizures of an additional 30 pounds of the illegal synthetic drug.
Originating from China, the shipments were addressed to individuals in multiple locations throughout 17 U.S. states and Canada. CBP officers tell News4Jax, some of the packages were headed to locations in both Florida and Georgia.
The packages were improperly manifested as “silicone resin,” “hardware nuts,” “snap hooks,” “plastic sheet sample,” and “nano hydrophobic coatings.”
“This recent enforcement effort was designed to stem the flow of synthetic narcotics to popular Spring Break destinations,” said Cincinnati Acting Port Director Steven Thompson. “The inherently lethal nature of these designer drugs underscores the importance of these sorts of interceptions, and the importance of our officers’ dedication to finding these potentially deadly substances.”
Furanyl fentanyl is a variant of fentanyl designed by illicit drug manufacturers as an attempt to avoid detection by law enforcement. Because it is cheap to produce, this deadly synthetic opioid is often added to heroin, increasing the likelihood of overdose.
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According to the Centers for Disease Control, during 2013–2014, fentanyl submissions increased 494% in Florida, from 33 to 196. Florida’s fentanyl death rates increased approximately 250% among those 14-34 years old from 2010-2012 to 2013-2014. The highest fentanyl death rates in Florida during 2013-2014 occurred among people 26- 34 years old and then 35–50 years old.
GBL, gamma-butyrolactone, is a precursor to gamma-hydroxybutyric acid, or GHB, also known as the date rape drug because of its ability to render victims unconscious or unresponsive. GBL metabolizes to GHB when ingested, and is a strong central nervous system depressant that can result in respiratory depression leading to death.
Alpha PVP and N-ethylpentylone, commonly known as bath salts, can induce hallucinations, paranoia, seizures, violent behavior, and death. These drugs are synthetic derivatives of cathinone, a naturally occurring psychoactive compound found in the fresh leaves of the khat plant.