85 pounds of fentanyl found in I-40 traffic stop bust
Note: This story has been edited to correct the amount of a lethal dose of fentanyl.
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Two people from Texas were arrested after a search of a pickup on Interstate 40 yielded 85 pounds of fentanyl, worth millions in street value, hidden in the vehicle.
Agents with the West Tennessee Violent Crime and Drug Task Force of the 30th Judicial District in Memphis say they stopped the Toyota Tacoma for a traffic violation as it headed eastbound on I-40 in Haywood County on Sunday.
They received a “positive alert for the odor of narcotics” and proceeded to search the vehicle, which was registered in Florida, authorities said.
MPD: Man tries to break into woman’s car with chainsaw
Officers say they found the fentanyl concealed in fertilizer bags and folded inside a tent, which was inside a bag.
Ernesto Ortiz, 42, and Maria Munoz-Arevalo, 25, from Humble, Texas were arrested on charges of delivering a Schedule II controlled substance. They are currently held at the Haywood County Jail under a $5 million bond.
The wholesale value of the drug is about $1 million, while the street value could be nearly 10 times that amount, authorities said.
Bond amount raised for suspect in Memphis police officer shooting
As little as 2 milligrams of fentanyl could cause a deadly overdose, authorities said. Tennessee was ranked second in the country in overdose deaths in 2021.
The drugs were found with the help of a dog assigned to the task force from the Haywood County Sheriff’s Office.
“Good Girl Canine Athena!!” the task force wrote on its Facebook page.
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com.
