Nevada: Drug Suspects Facing Court After Casino Seizes 44-Pound Haul of Fentanyl
Three individuals, identified as Jesus Aguayo, David Estrada, and Ulyses Lopez-Vazquez, are set to appear in court on Wednesday in connection with the uncovering of 213,000 fentanyl pills in a parking lot of a Henderson, Nevada gaming property. The news of their grand jury indictment emerged last week.
The three men are facing charges of trafficking in controlled substances, transporting controlled substances, and conspiracy to violate Nevada's Uniform Controlled Substance Act, stated a Las Vegas TV station KLAS. It was reported that they were partaking in the transfer of a whopping 44 pounds of fentanyl pills, believed to be "M30s," which resemble 30 mg oxycodone tablets, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal's write-up.
In August, Henderson's police department had discovered that suspected fentanyl was being sent to the casino from Arizona. Their destination was confirmed as Henderson's Sunset Station Hotel & Casino.
Fentanyl Originated in Mexico
The pills were traced back to Mexico, the report added. Officers monitored the casino lot before approaching a Dodge Charger where they found the illicit drugs in the trunk. The suspects, Aguayo, Estrada, and Lopez-Vazquez were inside the car.
These men were arrested on August 27 and made appearances in Henderson Justice Court after their arrests. They each posted a $20,000 bond and were released from custody. If convicted, they could serve years in prison.
Meanwhile, an unidentified fourth person who seemed to be at the casino lot to buy the illegal drugs managed to flee the scene and was not charged.
Fentanyl Poses a Danger
Fentanyl remains a major issue for health and law enforcement officials not only in Clark County but also across the country. It is a synthetic opioid that's fifty times stronger than heroin and one hundred times more potent than morphine, the Southern Nevada Health District (SNHD) shared with the Las Vegas Weekly.
In 2023 alone, Clark County reported 237 fentanyl-related fatalities. There was a staggering 97% increase in fatalities when fentanyl was combined with methamphetamine (meth) or cocaine, from 2020 to 2023, according to SNHD data.
One of the greatest challenges is the co-occurrence of fentanyl with stimulants because one of the popular drugs in Clark County, specifically Las Vegas, is methamphetamine, said Katarina Pulver, a health educator from SNHD, to the Weekly.
"Many people think they're taking methamphetamine or cocaine to party, but it's often laced with fentanyl," she added.
There's a notable increase in fentanyl-related deaths in Clark County, as it currently poses a massive threat, particularly when combined with stimulants, notes SNHD.
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Source: www.casino.org
