Derek Maltz alerts about dangerous new synthetic opioid cychlorphine
Derek Maltz, the former acting administrator of the DEA, has raised concerns about a newly identified synthetic opioid called cychlorphine. Reports suggest that this substance is significantly more potent—up to ten times stronger than fentanyl. He joined Lawrence Jones to discuss the escalating threat posed by cychlorphine and also addressed the dangers associated with kratom, especially in light of the recent tragic deaths of two students from Ole Miss. Maltz stressed the importance of parents staying alert and informed.
In a separate incident, an illegal immigrant in Nevada was pulled over for speeding and allegedly had enough fentanyl in his truck to potentially kill millions, according to federal prosecutors. The individual, Francisco Joel Garcia Farias, 26, now faces federal drug trafficking charges after being stopped by a sheriff’s deputy on a remote highway, leading to a search that was prompted by a narcotics detection dog.
Inside his vehicle, authorities discovered 13 large storage totes containing about 30 pounds of suspected fentanyl and 677 pounds of suspected methamphetamine—a staggering total exceeding 700 pounds.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Sigal Chattah highlighted the enormity of this seizure, noting that 14 kilograms of fentanyl alone could yield around seven million lethal doses, sufficient to kill more than twice the number of people living in Nevada. When combined with the methamphetamine, this operation had an estimated street value of approximately $2 million.
The fentanyl quantities involved could, alarming as it is, potentially kill nearly twice the population of Los Angeles or the entirety of Indiana, reflecting a stark indifference to human life driven solely by profit, according to Chattah.
The charges reveal that Garcia Farias is an illegal immigrant, coming to light in the aftermath of this incident. The event unfolded on October 13 on U.S. Highway 93 as the deputy noticed the pickup exceeding the speed limit.
After the K-9 alerted on the vehicle, deputies initiated a search that revealed numerous vacuum-sealed packages within the totes. They recovered nearly 187 packages of a white crystalline substance weighing about 307 kilograms, alongside brick-shaped packages amounting to roughly 14 kilograms. Field tests confirmed the presence of both methamphetamine and fentanyl.
U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche remarked that the seizure significantly reduced the risk posed by these dangerous drugs, assuring that those aiming to distribute lethal substances on American streets will face prosecution.
He praised the efforts of federal and local authorities, emphasizing that the dangerous drugs tied to this illegal immigrant could no longer threaten the lives of many Americans.
The investigation involved the collaboration of Homeland Security Investigations, the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, and various Homeland Security Task Force partners. John A. Condon, the executive associate director of HSI, pointed out the extraordinary risk these drugs posed to public safety and reaffirmed their commitment to combat these threats.
Lincoln County Sheriff Derek Foremaster recognized the diligence and professionalism of his deputies and the trained K-9 that helped identify the suspected narcotics.
Garcia Farias is now charged with possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl and 500 grams or more of methamphetamine. If found guilty, he faces a minimum of ten years in prison and could potentially receive a life sentence for each count, in addition to five years of supervised release.
