Major Breakthrough in New England’s Fight Against Counterfeit Pills

Prescription medication strewn on a table.

Authorities announce a landmark victory in the fight against illegal drug activities in New England.

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.
The operation was dismantled in Connecticut, uncovering a massive illicit manufacturing site.
The counterfeit pills included various dangerous substances like methamphetamine and protonitazene.
Investigations are ongoing, including probes into drug overdose deaths linked to the counterfeit pills.

Landmark Counterfeit Pill Bust in New England

Authorities announced a major victory in their crackdown on illegal drug activities in New England with the arrest of seven individuals involved in a counterfeit synthetic opioids operation. The bust resulted in the seizure of an enormous cache of fake prescription drugs, marking one of the largest seizures in the region. Federal officials emphasize this achievement as a testament to the persistent efforts of law enforcement in dismantling complex drug counterfeiting operations.

The investigation, spearheaded by the DEA New Haven’s Tactical Diversion Squad and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, uncovered an illicit manufacturing site in Connecticut. The suspects were indicted by a federal grand jury in Bridgeport, with charges including conspiracy to manufacture, distribute, and possess methamphetamine and protonitazene.

The counterfeit pills included oxycodone, Xanax, and Adderall, which contained dangerous substances such as methamphetamine, protonitazene, dimethylpentylone, and xylazine. These pills were produced using a pill press that could manufacture 100,000 pills per hour. In June 2023, a resident of New Haven was identified using such a pill press to produce counterfeit pills.

In what's believed to be one of the biggest-ever single location drug busts in New England, authorities say they seized over 220 pounds of drugs, including fentanyl, meth, and fake Adderall, from a home in Massachusetts.https://t.co/AUvoyp4AYk

— CBS 13 News (@WGME) November 7, 2023

Complex Operation Uncovered

The suspects, who hail from New Haven, West Haven, and Waterbury, rented a garage in East Haven for their manufacturing activities. They procured substances and pill press parts from China and elsewhere, producing the pills and selling them on the dark web. Between February 2023 and February 2024, one suspect shipped over 1,300 packages through the U.S. mail, demonstrating the expansive reach of their operations.

“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,” said Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge of the Boston Division for the Postal Inspection Service.

During the raid on September 5, authorities arrested five suspects and conducted searches at multiple locations, uncovering hundreds of thousands of pills and pill-manufacturing equipment. The ongoing investigation also extends to a recent drug overdose death in Connecticut linked to the counterfeit pills. Authorities have detained three suspects while four others were released pending trial.

Public Health Risks and Law Enforcement Efforts

Federal officials warn that synthetic opioids like protonitazene, which is three times more potent than fentanyl, pose severe risks to public health. Last year alone, over 107,500 individuals in the U.S. died from overdoses, contributing to more than one million deaths since 1999. With these staggering numbers, the recent bust highlights the ongoing battle against the distribution of counterfeit medications.

“This investigation reveals the constant challenges that we in law enforcement face in battling the proliferation of synthetic opioids in America,” stated U.S. Attorney Vanessa Roberts Avery.

The joint efforts of multiple law enforcement agencies, including the DEA, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, HSI, U.S. Customs and Border Patrol, FBI, U.S. Marshals Service, and local police departments, were crucial in the success of this operation. Federal grand jury indictments against the seven suspects mark a significant milestone in the ongoing battle against counterfeit drugs, with harsher penalties paving the way for justice.