Two Chicago brothers are facing serious drug charges in Washington County after a late-night traffic stop in Lake Elmo on May 28 turned up what troopers say was roughly two kilograms of fentanyl. According to court records, Minnesota State Patrol troopers pulled the vehicle over near Interstate 94 and Manning Avenue shortly after 11 p.m., and the stop quickly escalated into a major narcotics case.
Criminal complaints filed in Washington County District Court and reported by Limitless Media News say a narcotics-detection K-9 alerted to several spots near the rear of the vehicle. Troopers then searched the car and reported finding about 2,000 grams of a white, powdery substance in the back seat. Court documents identify the occupants as 27-year-old Malik Cortez White and 34-year-old Marque Antwon White, both listed as Chicago residents. The complaints state that the substance later tested positive for fentanyl. All allegations remain unproven at this stage of the case.
Charges and penalties
Each man is charged with first-degree controlled-substance crime, the statute that applies when someone unlawfully possesses 25 grams or more of heroin or fentanyl. Under Minnesota law, a first-degree conviction can carry up to 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine, with longer mandatory terms possible for repeat offenders, according to Minnesota Statutes §152.021. Prosecutors in Washington County are moving the case through district court while investigators and defense attorneys prepare for upcoming hearings.
How big is a two-kilogram seizure?
Two kilograms is far beyond the 25-gram threshold that triggers a first-degree possession charge and represents an amount that can be broken down into many thousands of potentially lethal street-level doses. In late April, the West Metro Drug Task Force in Minneapolis reported a fentanyl seizure of a massive two-kilo bust that local reporters described as a significant hit to distribution networks. Seizures on that scale help explain why investigators often treat large traffic-stop discoveries as possible pieces of broader trafficking operations.
Public-health context
Public-health officials say fentanyl remains at the center of Minnesota’s overdose crisis, and the state provides data and prevention resources through the Minnesota Department of Health. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that even a small amount of fentanyl can be deadly, which is why authorities continue to emphasize naloxone access, treatment, and outreach alongside traditional enforcement. Local leaders argue that interdictions, prosecutions, and prevention programs all have a role in cutting supply and reducing overdose deaths.
