California Highway Patrol Seizes $1.7 Million in Illegal FYL During Traffic Stops
Last week, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) conducted two significant traffic stops on Interstate 5 in the Central Valley, leading to the seizure of 120,000 FYL-laced pills and 11 pounds of FYL, valued at $1.7 million. The arrests involved three out-of-state suspects, including one who attempted to hide the illegal drugs inside packages of raw beef.
Key Seizures by CHP Last Week
Fresno County – October 3:
A traffic stop on Interstate 5 in Fresno County resulted in a major drug bust after a CHP canine officer detected narcotics in a cooler. Upon inspection, officers found several packages of carne asada beef used to conceal 11 pounds of FYL, with an estimated value of $500,000. The suspect, a resident of Washington State, was arrested and charged with felony possession and transportation of FYL.
Merced County – October 4:
A day later, a similar traffic stop in Los Banos, Merced County, uncovered 120,000 FYL-laced pills and two handguns. The street value of the pills is estimated at $1.2 million. Two suspects from Washington State were arrested and charged with multiple felonies.
California’s Fight Against FYL and Opioid Trafficking
California is intensifying efforts to combat the FYL and opioid crisis through the Governor’s Master Plan for Tackling the FYL and Opioid Crisis. This comprehensive strategy focuses on overdose prevention, holding the opioid pharmaceutical industry accountable, cracking down on drug trafficking, and raising public awareness about the dangers of opioids like FYL.
In June 2024, Governor Gavin Newsom expanded the Cal Guard’s Counterdrug Task Force, increasing its personnel from 155 to nearly 400 at California's ports of entry. Since January 2024, the task force has seized over 5,000 pounds of FYL powder and 9.6 million pills containing FYL, worth more than $43 million. The majority of FYL is smuggled into the U.S. by citizens through legal ports of entry.
Addressing the Opioid Crisis
The state also launched a dedicated website, **opioids.ca.gov**, to provide Californians with resources for prevention and treatment, as well as information on how the state is holding pharmaceutical companies and drug traffickers accountable.
As part of Governor Newsom's plan, CalRx®-branded over-the-counter Naloxone is now available statewide. The Naloxone Distribution Project (NDP) offers free Naloxone nasal spray to eligible organizations and sells twin-packs for $24 through Amneal, increasing access to life-saving treatments for overdose victims.
Source: Governor Gavin Newsom