Deadly Synthetic Opioids Flooded the Market through Illegal Online Pharmacies
Indictment Unsealed
A network of illegal drug sellers packaged potentially deadly synthetic opioids into pills disguised as common prescription drugs and sold millions of them through fake online drugstores, federal prosecutors said Monday. At least nine people died of narcotics poisoning between August 2023 and June 2024 after consuming the counterfeit pills, according to an indictment unsealed in federal court in Manhattan.
Operation Orchestrated by Leader Francisco Alberto Lopez Reyes
The leader of the enterprise, Francisco Alberto Lopez Reyes, orchestrated the scheme from the Dominican Republic, directing co-conspirators to set up dozens of online pharmacies that mimicked legitimate e-commerce sites. The sites lured customers into buying synthetic opioids — in some cases methamphetamine — disguised as prescription drugs such as Adderall, Xanax, and oxycodone.
Widespread Distribution and Seizures
The counterfeit pills were sold to tens of thousands of Americans in all 50 states and to customers in Puerto Rico, Germany, and Slovenia, according to U.S. Attorney Damian Williams. The pills were sold through online pharmacies that seemed legitimate, but were not.
Seizure of Pill Mills and Illicit Narcotics
Authorities raided a pill mill in Manhattan on May 31, 2023, and seized over 200,000 pills as well as bricks, bags, and buckets filled with powdered narcotics. Prosecutors said the pills were manufactured in New York using fentanyl smuggled from Mexico. Additionally, members of the enterprise ran basement pill mills in the Bronx and Manhattan, where they used custom molds to press powdered narcotics into pills at rates of up to 100,000 pills every 12 hours.
Fatalities and Felony Charges
At least nine people died of narcotics poisoning between August 2023 and June 2024 after consuming the counterfeit pills. The indictment charges 18 people, including Lopez Reyes, with participating in a narcotics trafficking conspiracy resulting in death. Many of the customers who received the counterfeit pills were coerced into buying more by the conspirators, with one customer receiving over 30 calls and texts daily.
The Impact of Fentanyl
Fentanyl has been responsible for thousands of overdose deaths in the United States, with most recent figures estimating over 78,000 people died from overdoses involving synthetic opioids between June 2022 and June 2023. The administrator of the federal Drug Enforcement Administration, Anne Milgram, called fentanyl "the most addictive and deadly drug threat that we have ever faced as a nation." Fentanyl is cheap to produce and highly addictive, making it a significant challenge for law enforcement and medical professionals.
Conclusion
The illegal drug trade and distribution of fentanyl-infused counterfeit pills are a pressing concern for public health officials and law enforcement agencies. This case serves as a reminder of the devastating impact of these dangerous drugs on individuals and families. Those responsible for perpetuating the illegal drug trade will continue to face criminal charges, and law enforcement agencies will work tirelessly to disrupt their operations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What was the scope of the illegal drug operation?
A: The operation is alleged to have sold tens of thousands of counterfeit pills to customers across the United States and abroad.
Q: How did the fake pills appear to customers?
A: The pills looked similar to real prescription pills and were marketed as common prescription drugs.
Q: How did authorities discover the operation?
A: Law enforcement officers raided a pill mill in Manhattan and seized large quantities of counterfeit pills and illegal narcotics.
Q: What are the risks associated with fentanyl-infused pills?
A: Fentanyl is a potent opioid that can cause respiratory depression and can be deadly, even in small doses.
Q: What is the government doing to address the illegal drug trade?
A: Law enforcement agencies, such as the Drug Enforcement Administration, are working to disrupt illegal drug operations and those responsible for distributing fentanyl-infused counterfeit pills.
