GOP presidential candidate Ron DeSantis addresses the immigration issue and building a border wall at the town hall. FIRST ON FOX: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is hailing law enforcement efforts and promising to “hunt down” fentanyl traffickers after the successful seizure of a massive 15,000 pills disguised as OxyContin by Florida authorities on Thursday.
“In Florida, we will hunt down anyone who brings fentanyl into our communities and puts lives at risk,” DeSantis, who is also running for the 2024 Republican White House nomination, said. “I am thankful to the officers who continue to put the safety of their communities first and apprehend these criminals.”
The seizure occurred when the Florida Highway Patrol Criminal Interdiction Unit arrested a suspect in Osceola County. The suspect, Jonathan Nicola, was driving recklessly and attempted to flee the scene, leading to a high-speed pursuit. After crashing, Nicola was taken into custody, and a subsequent search of the stolen vehicle revealed a loaded handgun, drug paraphernalia, and the 15,000 pills in a vacuum-sealed bag.
Illicit fentanyl, a highly potent opioid, is often manufactured in Mexico using Chinese precursors and smuggled across the U.S. land border. While most seizures take place at ports of entry, officials have expressed concerns about fentanyl being smuggled in between ports, taking advantage of overwhelmed Border Patrol agents dealing with the ongoing migrant crisis.
The Biden administration attributes the increase in fentanyl seizures to improved screening and technology at ports of entry, but Republicans argue that it is a result of the border crisis, suggesting that more of the drug could be slipping through. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reports that opioids were involved in 75% of the over 107,000 overdose deaths in 2021. Fentanyl, being 50 times stronger than heroin, can be fatal in small doses and is often mixed with or disguised as other drugs, leading to unknowing consumption by users.
Governor DeSantis and law enforcement officials in Florida remain committed to combating the influx of fentanyl into their communities. Despite the challenges posed by the open southern border, the Florida Highway Patrol continues its mission to keep communities safe and fight against the devastation caused by drug cartels.
This article was written by Adam Shaw, a politics reporter for Digital, specializing in immigration and border security. He can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter. Stay updated on the latest from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews, and more political content by subscribing to this newsletter.
