Fentanyl hidden within carne asada beef seized in Fresno County

FRESNO COUNTY, Calif. ( KSEE/KGPE ) – A Washington man has been arrested after a canine officer uncovered $500,000 worth of fentanyl hidden in carne asada beef packages and a tote cooler, the California Highway Patrol said.

Officers say a CHP vehicle pulled over a Ford Edge on northbound Interstate 5 on Thursday near Nees Avenue in Fresno County. During the stop, the officer discovered that the driver was unlicensed and initiated a vehicle impound.

According to CHP, during a search of the vehicle, the officer’s canine partner quickly alerted to the presence of narcotics. The officer found two packages of fentanyl in a soft tote cooler and three more hidden within packages of carne asada beef in a separate cooler, with a total weight of 11 pounds.

Officers say the discovery led to the arrest of Andres Daniel Gonzalez Murillo, 30, of Washougal, Washington. He was booked into the Fresno County Jail on suspicion of possession of fentanyl for sale and transportation of fentanyl across non-contiguous counties.

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