More than 50 pounds of fentanyl powder and nine pounds of black tar heroin were seized in South Los Angeles — drugs with an estimated street value of more than $4 million and enough fentanyl to kill more than 11 million people, according to police.
Narcotics investigators worked a case Wednesday near downtown LA that led to the arrest of 28-year-old Jose Alberto Soto, who was taken into custody on suspicion of selling fentanyl, Los Angeles police said Thursday in a press release.
From there, officers conducted a follow-up investigation that led to the execution of a search warrant at a location in the 7500 block of Central Avenue, in the Florence-Graham neighborhood of South LA, police said.
There, investigators seized the dozens of pounds of fentanyl and heroin, as well as $14,500 in cash, police said.
Los Angeles Police Department
LAPD referred to U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency figures for the Los Angeles region to estimate the drugs were worth more than $4 million. And given the DEA’s estimate that 2 mg of pure fentanyl could be a lethal dose, police said the amount seized could be enough to kill more than 11 million people.
No other details about the investigation have been released by the LAPD.
Anyone with information regarding similar alleged crimes is urged to contact the LAPD’s Central Area Narcotics Enforcement Detail at 213-486-6664. After-hours or weekend calls should be directed to 877-LAPD-24-7 (877-527-3247).
Those wishing to remain anonymous can reach LA Regional Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477) or visit lacrimestoppers.org.
