Police arrest Pontiac man accused of selling fentanyl pills disguised as oxycodone
PONTIAC, Mich. (CBS DETROIT) - A Pontiac man is accused of selling fentanyl pills that were disguised as oxycodone prescription pills, police said.
The Sterling Heights Police Department Narcotics Team started investigating 31-year-old Miguel Angel Rosario-Nieves in early February.
Investigation revealed that the pills being sold were imprinted with the label "M30," which is the number imprinted on all normal oxycodone pills.
During the investigation, which extended across Macomb and Oakland counties, there were multiple drug deals with undercover officers.
"In late February, the Sterling Heights Narcotics Team conducted a high-risk search warrant on an address in Pontiac," said the Sterling Heights Police Department. "Upon doing so, they recovered 18,000 pills of fentanyl which were disguised as oxycodone prescription pills. These pills had the strength to kill a single person with just one dose!"
Police say the number of drugs recovered had a street value of about $450,000.
Rosario-Nieves was arrested and given a $500,000 bond.
"Due to the outstanding and diligent work by our undercover officers, there is no doubt that thousands of lives were saved by this arrest and the recovery of these fake oxycodone pills," said Sterling Heights police. "The Sterling Heights Police Department prides itself on protecting our community and arresting people like Mr. Rosario-Nieves who choose to poison our society for monetary gain."
For two Metro Detroit mothers, this story hits home due to the fact they've both lost children that were poisoned by fentanyl.
The two moms are out on a mission to bring awareness to the issue plaguing much of America and are part of the nonprofit 4ThemWeFight.
Rebecca Kiessling lost two sons after reportedly taking a drug that was laced with fentanyl. Kiessling recently spoke in Washington saying the government isn't doing enough to address the opioid crisis and stop illegal drugs at the border
"You can't experiment anymore you don't get to learn from your mistakes anymore. Because 6 out of 10 pills are going to be laced with this fentanyl." Rebecca Elmaksoud, mother of a son who was poisoned.
Authorities say one pill alone could be deadly.
"These numbers are going to keep rising this is just the jest of what is to happen, they've got to shut these borders down," Elmaksoud said.
For accused drug dealers like Rosario-Nieves, the mothers are adamant he's where he's supposed to be.
"You are part of killing our children because you wanted to make a profit," they said.
To learn more about the non-profit 4ThemWeFight, click here.
