26 indicted, phony pills seized in federal crackdown

(KYMA, KECY/ AP News) - Seventeen people were arrested and nearly 500,000 counterfeit pills were seized during a federal crackdown on drug traffickers suspected of bringing phony pharmaceuticals laced with fentanyl and other illicit narcotics into California from Mexico.

According to a statement from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the two-year investigation led to the indictment of 26 defendants, with nine suspects still being sought by the the Drug Enforcement Administration.

The traffickers based in Mexico are accused of smuggling counterfeit pharmaceutical pills laced with fentanyl, heroin, methamphetamine, and cocaine into the U.S.

In addition to the pills, agents seized more than 50 kilograms of methamphetamine, 10 kilograms of cocaine and $230,000 in assets, according to officials.

The DEA worked with other federal agencies, as well as the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department.