MADISON HEIGHTS (WWJ) - A cartel-related arrest in West Michigan yielded new information used to make another large-scale drug bust in Metro Detroit earlier this week.
As reported by Mlive, Michigan State Police acted on a search warrant in Madison Heights on Tuesday, March 7, the same day 25-year-old Bahujan Martinez-Garcia of California was arrested by troopers in Paw Paw in what authorities said was the largest seizure of fentanyl during a traffic stop in the state.
In the West Michigan arrest, state police found four kilos, or about 11 pounds, of fentanyl stuffed in a duffle bag when Martinez-Garcia allowed troopers to search his vehicle. Each kilo was individually wrapped in heat-sealed bags, MSP officials said.
Martinez-Garcia was charged with a felony count of possession of more than 1,000 grams of fentanyl with intent to deliver on Thursday.
Evidence presented in court alleged the 25-year-old was transporting or smuggling fentanyl from California to Michigan.
“(MSP) provided information that these controlled substances and its transport was connected to the Sinaloa cartel,” Judge Michael McKay said via Mlive during the court proceedings on March 9. “They also stated that it was enough fentanyl to kill 2.5 million people, which is roughly a third of the population of the state of Michigan, which may make Mr. Garcia the most dangerous person in our jail that he was furthering that health crisis."
The judge ordered him held in the Van Buren County Jail on a $500,000 bond due to being a potential flight risk -- and for his safety.
"Jail may also be the safest place for Mr. Garcia," the judge added, "given that he lost $6 million worth of cartel fentanyl."
Mlive reported that Martinez-Garcia was visibly upset and began talking in Spanish before his attorney told him to stop.
“In there, I think I might be killed because I know they have a lot of connections,” he stated through a translator.
State police in Metro Detroit said information obtained during the Paw Paw arrest lead them to Madison Heights where officers with the County of Macomb Enforcement Team (COMET), MSP 5th District Hometown Security Team and Southwest Enforcement Team performed a search warrant.
"COMET Detectives seized approximately 900 grams of fentanyl, 942 suspected pressed fentanyl pills, a handgun, and $22,000.00," troopers said. "The approximate street value of the drugs is $70,000.00."
Martinez-Garcia admitted to the judge on Thursday that he cooperated with state police to arrest other suspects and this was his “first time doing this due to lack of money.”
Authorities say just one kilo can produce about 500,000 fentanyl pills with a street value of about $1.5 million.
The suspect in Madison Heights is a convicted felon, MSP added. He was currently in jail pending a prosecutor's review.
In Paw Paw, if Martinez-Garcia is able to post bond, he is ordered to wear an electronic tether. His next court hearings were scheduled for March 22 and March 28.
He faces up to life in prison if convicted.