An Oregon State Police (OSP) K-9 unit scored a significant drug bust last week when it seized a hefty stash of fentanyl and heroin during a traffic stop on Interstate 5, en route to Portland. The interception occurred on Tuesday when a trooper pulled over a vehicle at around 11 a.m. near milepost 135 in Douglas County for speeding. The driver's behavior raised suspicions leading to the deployment of the canine unit, which sniffed out drugs hidden in the car.
Upon searching the vehicle, law enforcement uncovered 5.8 pounds of fentanyl and 5 pounds of heroin, the latter of which was suspected to contain traces of fentanyl making it even more deadly; because fentanyl, which is a synthetic opioid estimated to be 50 to 100 times stronger than morphine, has been a growing concern due to its connection to skyrocketing overdose deaths across the nation. The OSP has not commented on the street value of the seized narcotics, but they could fetch a high price in the illicit drug market. The bust points to the continuing scourge of opioid distribution networks that plague the West Coast.
The two occupants of the vehicle, identified as Dago Rodrigo Rodrigues, 22, and Mateo Marin Peraza, 20, both from Oakland, California, were arrested following the find. They are facing charges including unlawful possession and delivery of fentanyl and heroin; they were subsequently booked into Douglas County Jail. Statistics from the Oregon State Police underscore the dire straits the region faces with ongoing drug trafficking attempts.
