The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) announced one of the largest single seizures of suspected fentanyl pills in United States history, recovering “approximately 1.7 million counterfeit fentanyl pills from a storage facility in the Denver suburb of Highlands Ranch.” The seizure unfolded like an episode of a TV show, with a winning bidder legally buying a storage unit and unbeknownst to them, the unit contained 1.7 million counterfeit fentanyl pills and another 12 kilograms of fentanyl powder, according to DEA Rocky Mountain Field Division Special Agent in Charge David Olesky.
“There is no doubt many lives have been saved by keeping these poison pills off the streets of Colorado,” he added.

Upon noticing the contents of the storage unit, the bidder immediately contacted the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office. “I want to thank the citizen who reported this discovery, the storage facility staff for their cooperation, and the deputies who responded quickly and professionally,” said Douglas County Sheriff Darren Weekly. “Let me send a strong and unmistakable message: fentanyl and illegal narcotics will not be tolerated in Douglas County.”

The record seizure is connected with an ongoing DEA and Colorado Bureau of Investigation case. The registered owner of the storage unit is already in federal custody. “The seizure of these drugs represents countless lives saved, as these dangerous substances will never reach our communities,” Colorado Bureau of Investigation Director Armando Saldate stated. In addition to the 1.7 million pills, the 12 kilograms of powder seized had the potential to yield up to an additional six million pills.

Colorado Governor Jared Polis praised the hard work of federal, state, and local law enforcement. “I want to thank everyone who helped us with the largest successful fentanyl seizure in Colorado history,” he said. “Getting more of this deadly drug off the streets saves lives. In Colorado, we are cracking down on crime, apprehending dangerous criminals, and keeping our communities safe.”

Additionally, 2.5 pounds of methamphetamine were seized, according to the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office. The registered owner of the storage unit was already in federal custody when the discovery occurred, according to the DEA. The individual was taken into custody by the DEA in April, “which resulted in the unit going unpaid and eventually being auctioned off,” the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office said. Authorities did not release the name of the storage facility, the registered owner of the unit or the citizen who won the unit in the auction.