Major Suppliers of Fentanyl, Opioids Arrested in Connecticut
A drug task force recently announced that 9 persons have been arrested in “Operation Jackpot” for trafficking substantial amounts of fentanyl and other drugs in central Connecticut. Fentanyl is an opioid (narcotic analgesic) that is not indicated for much use outside of general anesthesia. When improperly used, it is likely to result in overdose and death due to severe respiratory distress. It is as much as 50 times more potent than heroin, and sometimes, in comes laced into heroin, or substituted outright for the drug. Last year, at least 482 people died from heroin and opioid overdoses in Connecticut. The task force included agents from the Drug Enforcement Agency (Hartford), the U.S. Attorney’s Office, and New Britain and Wethersfield police departments. Deirdre Daly, U.S. Attorney:“We believe that this groundbreaking investigation has identified a major supplier of fentanyl in our state. This investigation has provided us with an important window into how fentanyl is winding up on our streets.”The operation, which began in December, 2015, yielded 9 arrests, 2.5 kilos of fentanyl, 2 kilos of molly, 50,000 fake Xanax pills, 40 pounds of marijuana, steroids, and $500,000 in cash. This is thought to be largest seizure of fentanyl in Connecticut, and one of the largest in all of New England. Among the charged: John Casadei, 45, of Morrisons, Jared McBriarty, 31, of Bristol, and Kyle Peterson of New Britain have all been charged with (1) conspiracy to distribute and (2) conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl. Peterson is also charged with fentanyl possession.
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