On Sunday morning (5 May), two bodies were found surrounded by a 'white powder substance' in a 'human-dug cave' in the San Fernando Valley area of Los Angeles.
The grim discovery was made by firefighters shortly after 10.30 am while they were probing hazardous materials at a residence on the 8700 block of N. Lindley Avenue.
After the white powder was found, a Hazardous Materials team and Urban Search and Rescue specialists were called to the scene to investigate and retrieve the bodies.
The substance was later confirmed to contains traces of fentanyl.
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LAFD Chief Scott Hilton said in a statement: "We found a powder which, with the assurance of our hazardous material squad, we determined to have portions of fentanyl and were able to mitigate that and secure it, and we disposed of that."
The fire department later said that there was no 'off-site hazard' or any risk to the public.
The two bodies, which were both adult males, were found in a cave near a homeless encampment that stood about two to three feet high.
It appears that somebody had dug a hole into the side of a small hill and two people were found inside it, said a spokesperson for the fire department.
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It is not currently clear how the bodies ended up in the cave but authorities believe that they died of drug overdoses, as reported by ABC7.
Their cause of death has yet to be confirmed by medical examiners but first responders say there were no signs of foul play.
LADbible has contacted the LAFD for further comment.
This comes just months after six bodies were found in California's Mojave Desert following an apparent dispute over marijuana.
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The sheriff’s office said it had determined the victims in the shooting had arranged to meet in the area for a marijuana transaction.
"This mass murder, done in a dark secluded desert, clearly illuminates the violence and crime that exists as a direct consequence of illegal marijuana operations," district attorney Jason Anderson said.
The bodies were recovered on 23 January outside El Mirage after a victim called 911 saying he'd been shot.
Five men were arrested in connection with the crime but were later released on bail.
There is an ongoing investigation into what happened.
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"There’s certain things at the scene that show a level of violence that obviously raises some interesting questions for us,’ said Sergeant Michael Warwick.
"But at this point in the investigation, we can’t comment on if we believe if this is cartel-related or not."
Bec Oakes