Colorado authorities say a routine storage-unit auction unexpectedly exposed one of the largest fentanyl stockpiles ever uncovered in the state, launching an investigation that now spans multiple states and several federal agencies.
The discovery came after the winning bidder of an abandoned Highlands Ranch storage locker opened it and immediately recognized what appeared to be illegal narcotics, prompting a call to law enforcement that quickly escalated into a major operation.
Deputies with the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office arrived at the facility and began examining the contents, soon confirming the unit held a staggering quantity of counterfeit fentanyl pills along with other narcotics.
David Olesky, Special Agent in Charge for the DEA’s Rocky Mountain Field Division, said the scene unfolded in a way few would expect outside of scripted television.
“This played out like an episode of a TV show, where a winning bidder legally bought a storage unit and unbeknownst to them, the unit contained 1.7 million counterfeit fentanyl pills and another 12 kilograms of fentanyl powder,” Olesky said in a press release.
Crime lab personnel cataloged the findings: roughly 198 kilograms of counterfeit pills, 12 kilograms of powdered fentanyl capable of producing millions more pills and about 2.5 pounds of methamphetamine.
Officials noted that the sheer volume of narcotics made this Colorado’s largest-ever fentanyl-pill recovery and placed it among the largest single seizures nationwide.
Sheriff Darren Weekly praised both the citizen who reported the discovery and the rapid coordination among law enforcement.
“Let me send a strong and unmistakable message: fentanyl and illegal narcotics will not be tolerated in Douglas County,” he said. “Our deputies, detectives, and crime lab professionals are committed to keeping this community safe, and we will remain relentless in that mission.”
Investigators later determined that the storage unit had previously been rented by a courier involved in a trafficking network tied to the Sinaloa Cartel.
According to KDVR, the renter was arrested in April, leaving the bill unpaid and ultimately leading the facility to auction the unit.
Colorado Bureau of Investigation Director Armando Saldate confirmed the link.
“We know now that storage locker belonged to a drug courier linked to this organization. Once the courier was arrested, the storage unit bill went unpaid,” he said.
Body-camera footage released by the sheriff’s office shows deputies opening containers filled with tens of thousands of “M-30” pills, prompting immediate shock from responding officers.
One deputy could be heard reacting to the sheer scale of the discovery, saying, “That’s an absolute metric [expletive] ton,” while another commented, “I got a very unique situation here.”
The DEA emphasizes that just two milligrams of fentanyl can be fatal.
“Getting more of this deadly drug off the streets saves lives,” said Colorado Gov. Jared Polis (D). “In Colorado, we are cracking down on crime.”
Authorities say their investigation remains active and involves agencies in six states. While officials declined to release further details, they stressed the impact of the seizure.
“While there are countless captivating storylines… the bottom line is this seizure represents countless lives saved,” Saldate said.
The seizure not only marks a major victory for law enforcement but also underscores the lives potentially spared from the deadly narcotics flowing across state lines.
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