Virginia police discover over 20,000 fentanyl-laced tablets stashed in hearth extinguisher

Police in Virginia uncovered over 20,000 fentanyl-laced Percocet tablets in a hearth extinguisher from a automobile.

The Prince William County Police Division reported that related tablets have been identified to be distributed inside the space. Officers already knew the suspected vendor and carried out a automobile cease on the suspect.

"Along with recovered tablets, suspected crack cocaine and an undisclosed sum of money had been seized," the division reported Friday.

"The suspect has been charged and additional info is being restricted as a result of ongoing investigation," the publish learn. "That is a part of legislation enforcement's ongoing joint effort to fight the opioid epidemic within the nation."

Virginia noticed at the very least 2,656 deadly overdoses in 2021 alone, in accordance with a report from the Division of Well being. Fentanyl accounted for 76.5% of these deaths. Illicit opioid-related deaths have outnumbered prescription-related deaths yearly within the state since 2015. Even deadly cocaine overdoses elevated 23.2% from final 12 months alone.

The drug arrest charge in Virginia ranked 18 out of fifty in 2019, the most recent 12 months by which the information was out there, in accordance with its Division of Felony Justice Companies. That 12 months, the speed was 518.8 per 100,000 individuals.