OC Sheriff deputies make a huge drug bust after a traffic stop

The Orange County Sheriff’s Highway Interdiction Team (HIT) was involved in a major drug seizure this week.

On July 15, a member of HIT performed a traffic stop of a vehicle and found a major drug haul.

Inside the vehicle, the deputy found 46 concealed packages consisting of:

• 40 kilograms of suspected fentanyl
• 4 kilograms of suspected cocaine
• 2 kilograms of suspected heroin

The driver was arrested and booked into jail. This seizure is another example of our ongoing efforts to keep dangerous drugs off our streets.

Here’s a plain text summary of the potential penalties the suspect could face for the July 15 drug seizure in Orange County:

Charges and Penalties:

1. Fentanyl (40 kilograms):

• Felony possession and transportation for sale.
• Base sentence: 3 to 9 years in state prison.
• Sentence enhancements for quantity:
  • Over 1 kg: +3 years
  • Over 4 kg: +5 years
  • Over 10 kg: +10 years
  • Over 20 kg: +15 years
  • Over 40 kg: +20 years
• Fines: Up to $8 million.
• If linked to a fatal overdose in the future, the suspect could face second-degree murder charges under Alexandra’s Law.

2. Cocaine (4 kilograms):

• Felony possession and transportation for sale.
• Base sentence: 2 to 4 years in state prison.
• Likely enhancement: +3 to 5 years for weight.

3. Heroin (2 kilograms):

• Felony possession and transportation for sale.
• Base sentence: 2 to 4 years in state prison.
• Likely enhancement: +3 years for weight.

Other Aggravating Factors:

• Transporting across county lines.
• Prior convictions.
• Possession near schools or public areas.
• Possession while armed.

Estimated Total Exposure:

• Over 30 years in prison.
• Millions of dollars in fines.
• Possible future homicide charges if linked to overdose deaths.