PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Montgomery County officials say they have arrested a person in possession of five kilograms of fentanyl worth more than $1.6 million.
District Attorney Kevin Steele’s office says Jorge Valdez-Rosas, 22 of San Luis, Arizona, was taken into custody on Wednesday after he was found at a hotel in Upper Merion Township with a duffle bag allegedly carrying the drugs.
The investigation into Valdez-Rosas began when authorities received information that a drug trafficking organization operating in both Mexico and the United States was in the process of smuggling kilogram-sized quantities of fentanyl into the country, with part of them on the way to the Montgomery County area.
Officials said the five kilograms of fentanyl equal more than 160,000 individual doses.
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“By intercepting this delivery of fentanyl into our communities, we have saved countless lives by preventing significant fatal overdoses,” said Steele.
Valdez-Rosas has been arrested on charges of possession with intent to deliver, conspiracy, and other related charges. His bail was originally set at $250,000, but a judge raised it to $500,000. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for Feb. 15.
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