A male and female suspect were arrested earlier this month in a drug bust that possibly saved 50 million people in southern California, according to law enforcement. The pair, which include 30-year-old Andres Jesus Morales and 27-year-old Christine Ponce, was apprehended after police spent months investigating an opioid drug ring in Riverside County.
Morales and Ponce's arrests came after police performed a drug raid on a home this past August. During the raid, authorities seized 21 kilograms (about 46 pounds) of carfentanil, a synthetic opioid that's 100 times stronger than fentanyl and 10,000 times more powerful than morphine. Officials claim that just nanograms of the deadly opioid can be lethal.
"If mixed in with other drugs, the 21 kilos of carfentanil seized could have been enough to potentially kill more than 50 million people," the police said.
The drug raid was believed to be the largest carfentanil bust in Riverside County's history. While no one was at the residence during the August 17 raid, the police raided another home on September 14 where they arrested Morales and Ponce. In addition to tracking down the two suspects, investigators also seized 16 kilos of cocaine.
Andres Jesus Morales and Christine Ponce have both been charged with four felony counts of possession of a controlled substance for sale. Both suspects have pleaded not guilty and are being held without bond until their next court appearance on November 9.
Look above for images of the drugs that were confiscated.
