Many people in New York and across the United States have turned to using prescription narcotics for recreational purposes. Fentanyl, a narcotic pain-reliever, is just one of the many types of drugs that are being smuggled in Mexico’s drug trade. Since fentanyl is cheaper to make then heroin, drug traffickers have started pushing these to drug users as a way to increase their profit margin. In 2017 alone, the amount of fentanyl seized from drug operations increased from 35 to 491 pounds. In addition, more than 1,400 people in New York City alone died from fatal fentanyl overdoses.

A New York man was apprehended for drug trafficking as a major member of a Mexican drug ring transporting fentanyl over the border using trucks, couriers and cars. The Drug Enforcement Administration indicted the 41-year old man after an incident where they seized 44 pounds of fentanyl from him in 2017. An undercover law enforcement officer posing as a drug dealer lured the drug trafficker to New York City. When he met the undercover agent to pick up a payment from a drug deal, the officer arrested him.

When people face criminal charges, they often need the assistance of a dedicated attorney. People who are found guilty of committing a crime face a wide-range of penalties, which can affect the rest of their lives. An experienced attorney may act as an advocate to those who need representation when going through the legal process.

Source: Herald & Review, “Alleged drug trafficker charged in smuggling from Mexico,” Tom Hays, Mar 27, 2018.