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​Mexican Police Find Enough Drugs To Kill Millions In Back Of Car

​Mexican Police Find Enough Drugs To Kill Millions In Back Of Car

The person driving the SUV from which they were seized was originally pulled over because they didn't have a front licence plate.

Jess Hardiman

Jess Hardiman

Mexican cops have busted a huge drug shipment near the city of Ensenada in Baja California - a haul so big that it would have been enough to kill millions of people.

The shipment, which was found about an hour-and-a-half south of the border with the US, contained 100lbs (44.5kg) of synthetic opioid fentanyl, which can be fatal in doses of just a few milligrams.

Police said it also included 914lbs (415 kg) of crystal meth, 88lbs (40kg) of cocaine and 18.5lbs (8.4kg) of heroin.

To put that into context, a seizure of 4.5lbs (3kg) of fentanyl was found in Columbus, Ohio last year, and according to prosecutors at the time it was enough to potentially kill the entire population of the city. That's 860,000 people, FYI.

It was an amazing amount of drugs.
Handout

The person driving the SUV from which they were seized was originally pulled over because they didn't have a front licence plate.

However, when they searched the vehicle they discovered gigantic sacks in the boot, which were stuffed with the drugs.

In November, Mexican authorities also seized 31lbs (14kgs) of fentanyl. It had been hidden in a car on a highway between the Gulf of California and San Luis Rio Colorado - home to a border crossing with Arizona.

The large amount of drugs was seized
The large amount of drugs was seized

Autopsy results revealed that it was an accidental overdose of fentanyl that killed singer Prince, who was found dead at 57 on 21 April 2016.

The musician and composer had reportedly been struggling with abusing painkillers in the lead-up to his death, and was apparently scheduled to meet with an addiction specialist the day after he died.

A coroner's finding from the death of late rock star Tom Petty also revealed that fentanyl was among the medications found in his system at the time. He also died on 2 October last year, also of an accidental overdose.

His daughter has since spoken about her father's death, taking to her Instagram page to say: "My dad in the past openly overcame a crippling drug problem with no shame."

She added: "His recent death is tragic, yet he died from doing what he loved and what will continue to keep his spirit alive: touring with a broken hip because he would have it no other way."

Ben Levenson, addiction expert and founder of Origins Behavioral Healthcare, told People that fentanyl may not be as immediately familiar with people, but isn't uncommon.

Comparing it to other frequent abused drugs, he said: "It's very, very powerful. 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine and 25 to 50 times more potent than heroin.

"Depending on the grade, about 40 times more potent than heroin."

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: World News, Mexico, Drugs