Alleged fentanyl trafficker arrested in Arcadia, nearly 40 pounds worth $1.3 million seized
A suspected fentanyl dealer was arrested in Arcadia with nearly 40 pounds of the deadly drug worth at least $1.3 million on the street, officials said.
Michael Edward Flores was arrested while transporting fentanyl and cocaine, California Attorney General Rob Bonta said Thursday. The drugs are believed to have originated in Mexico.
A felony complaint filed April 28 in Los Angeles Superior Court charges Edwards with possession for sale of a controlled substance, transportation of a controlled substance and possession of a controlled substance while armed.
“We have arrested another fentanyl trafficker who was poisoning our communities and profiting from his addiction,” Bonta said in a statement. “If you are trafficking fentanyl, we will find you, we will prosecute you, and we will hold you accountable to the fullest extent of the law.”
“This fight involves more than one criminal,” he said. “This is about confronting the fentanyl epidemic that has devastated families across our country. I want to thank my team for investigating and prosecuting this case. Their dedication to eradicating fentanyl is saving countless lives, one attack at a time.”
Bonta said the investigation by the California Department of Justice led to the arrest, as well as the seizure of more than 37 pounds of fentanyl powder, or more than 8.5 million doses, 2.2 pounds of cocaine and a handgun.
Flores’ age, hometown and date of arrest were not immediately available.
Since April 2022, the California DOJ has seized nearly 17.3 million fentanyl pills and 7,167 pounds of powder and made more than 620 fentanyl-related arrests, the AG announced Thursday.
In 2023, DOJ developed the Fentanyl Enforcement Program in response to an emerging fentanyl epidemic in California. The program hosts three teams: in Los Angeles, San Diego and Dublin, Alameda County. The goal of the initiative is to identify and dismantle fentanyl distribution organizations across the state.
