Columbia Police have arrested a Texas couple after finding roughly 20,000 fake fentanyl pills during a traffic stop, the department announced Tuesday.
Officials say the two 52-year-olds, Loria Leal and Eufracio Rodriguez, Jr. were both transferred to federal custody after the stop and charged with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.
Officials say the small round blue pills with an 'M-30' imprint, were found in two packages both weighing roughly five pounds. Police also found $3,250 in cash in the car.
The estimated street value of the pills is $200,000.
According to the US Drug Enforcement Agency, 'M-30' stamped fentanyl pills can be fatal, even if consumed in smaller quantities. Pills appear white or blue and are laced with illegal drugs like cocaine, heroine, and meth.
These pills are often manufactured in a way to deceive the public as legitimate prescriptions from a licensed medical professional such as Xanax or Adderall, DEA officials said.
So far this year in Columbia, CPD has investigated 12 suspected fentanyl fatalities and 32 fentanyl survivals, according to officials. Compared to 2021, CPD investigated 22 suspected fentanyl fatalities and 15 fentanyl overdose survivals. Both years, CPD officers administered three successful Naloxone/Narcan deployments to victims.