Three people are facing drug charges after a gang task force in Massachusetts seized more than 220 lbs. in suspected drugs, federal authorities said Monday at a press conference in Boston.
On Wednesday, Nov. 1, federal investigators along with members of the North Shore Gang Task Force raided a home in Lynn, Massachusetts, in connection with an ongoing overdose death investigation.
The raid resulted in the seizure of over 100 kilograms of controlled substances and the arrests of Emilio “6” Garcia, Sebastien “Bash” Bejin, and Deiby Felix, members of a large-scale drug trafficking organization on the North Shore, according to Acting U.S. Attorney for Massachusetts Joshua S. Levy.
Of the seized drugs, which included fentanyl and methamphetamine, many were shaped like heart-shaped Valentine’s Day candies — which Levy called “a very frightening development” during Monday’s press conference.
“We have a ton of fake drugs out there. Now we have fentanyl that looks like candy circulating in our communities,” Levy said, speaking to reporters in front of a bag of the pink candy-shaped pills.
The street value of the 228 lbs. of seized drugs is over $8 million and consisted of more than 10 million doses — more doses than there are people in Massachusetts, officials said.
“If you or a loved one are buying pills off the street…it might not be what you think it is,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Jodi Cohen, referring to the pills which disguised fentanyl and methamphetamine as percocet and adderall.
Cohen said the FBI believes Garcia led the North Shore drug trafficking network.
Garcia, Bejin, and Felix face federal charges of drug possession with intent to distribute in connection to last week’s raid.
Garcia and Behin are also being charged with conspiracy.
All three will be in federal court next Monday, Nov. 13, the U.S Attorney said.
According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) statistics, 26,700 lbs. of fentanyl were seized at the southwest U.S.-Mexico border in Fiscal Year 2023 — up from 14,100 lbs. in FY 2022.
Drug trafficking & human trafficking should be capital crimes.
100,000 Americans murdered by overdose each year.
THINK ABOUT IT !