Drug bust nets huge haul of heroin and fake oxycodone pills in Delaware
WILMINGTON, Del. – A drug bust netted more $1 million worth of heroin, cocaine and fentanyl this month in what federal and state investigators are calling the biggest of its kind in this area.
Two men, both from Mexico, have been charged with distributing controlled substances – in this case, fentanyl disguised as oxycodone pills, according to U.S. Attorney David Weiss. He said additional charges are forthcoming.
Over the past several months, investigators unraveled the drug operation, which centered around the two men living in New Jersey, who authorities say were regularly funneling lookalike oxycodone pills into northern Delaware.
The drugs seized, which include about 10 kilograms of heroin, 3 kilograms of cocaine and about 14,000 fentanyl pills, carry a street value of more than $1 million, Weiss said.
The "potential devastation" to be caused by these drugs is incalculable, Weiss said.
According to DEA Special Agent Shawn Ellerman, each kilogram of heroin is estimated to produce about 330,000 doses (or baggies) of heroin.
"This is a substantial amount of narcotics that is in the state of Delaware," he said. "This proves to us, as we always said, that there are high-trafficking organizations operating not around, but in Delaware itself."
Julian Rivera-Villa and Ricardo Perez-Guillen — both from Gloucester City, New Jersey — came on the radar of Middletown police officer John Stuart for possible drug distribution.
Authorities have charged Julian Rivera-Villa, 56, and Ricardo Perez-Guillen, 40, with distribution of fentanyl. Both are now in federal custody and face a maximum of 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine.
Follow Brittany Horn on Twitter: @brittanyhorn
This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Huge haul of heroin, fake oxycodone pills in Delaware drug bust
