IRDELL COUNTY, NC (LOOTPRESS) – On Sunday, December 10, 2023, members of the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office Interstate Criminal Enforcement Team (ICE) conducted a traffic stop on a 2014 Freightliner tractor-trailer on Interstate 77 for a traffic violation.
Deputies encountered Lorenzo Juan Arreola, 44 Years Old, from Sunland Park, New Mexico, and Lucio Eduardo Chavira Avila, 33 Years Old, from Parral Chihuahua, Mexico. They were traveling from Charlotte, North Carolina, to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, with a load of tile.
During the traffic stop, Canine Groot, who is trained in detecting narcotics, was deployed and gave a positive indication of the presence of narcotics in the vehicle.
Deputies then conducted a search of the tractor-trailer and located 53.6 kilos (118lbs) of suspected Fentanyl, possibly mixed with Cocaine. Also, a large sum of United States Currency, in excess of $100,000, was located inside the tractor cab.
Groot, the deputy canine that was used to detect the narcotics, in this case, was purchased using asset forfeiture money from drug dealers. Groot is trained in detecting narcotics, specializing in fentanyl.
Sheriff Campbell stated that based on the current wholesale value of $30,000.00 per Kilo, the total street value would translate to approximately $3,752,000.00.
Lorenzo Juan Arreola and Lucio Eduardo Chavira Avila were arrested and transported to the Iredell County Detention Center, where they were taken before Magistrate Thompson, who issued a 3.5 million dollar secured bond each. We are working with the Federal Authorities to confirm their legal status to be in the United States.
According to the Drug Enforcement Administration website, “One kilogram of Fentanyl has the potential to kill 500,000 people”. This math shows that 53.6 kilos could potentially kill 26,800,000 people. For reference, North Carolina has a population of 10.7 million, so this would cause death to the entire population of North Carolina 2.5 times over.
The supply of illegal drugs is at an all-time high across our nation, which drives violence, addictions, and other crimes. Law Enforcement is frustrated with the overdose deaths, crime, and violence that follows the drug trade. We need our lawmakers to secure our borders and provide the resources to stop the flow of these deadly narcotics across the southern border.
Fentanyl is killing North Carolinians and other Americans at an alarming rate. According to the North Carolina Office of Chief Medical Examiner, North Carolina has seen a 658% increase in fentanyl-related overdose deaths between 2016 and 2022. We need lawmakers to support the house resolution bill, FEND off Fentanyl Act (H.R. 3333). This bill will provide needed tools to deter international fentanyl trafficking and prosecute fentanyl-related money laundering and continuation of asset forfeiture programs for law enforcement to seize drug profits that are used to protect communities.
North Carolina recently passed legislation Senate Bill 189. This law will increase monetary fines on fentanyl traffickers and make it easier to arrest and prosecute individuals who give a drug to a person when the use of that drug results in the person’s death.