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.