Man arrested after Oregon State Police find nearly half a million fentanyl pills in SUV

PORTLAND, Ore. ( KOIN ) – A man was arrested Tuesday afternoon after authorities found almost half a million fentanyl-laced pills in his car, Oregon State Police announced.

Around 1 p.m. Tuesday, an Oregon State Trooper stopped a Volkswagen SUV for a traffic violation on Interstate 5 in Douglas County. OSP said the trooper suspected criminal activity and searched the car.

During the search, the trooper found 100 pounds of fentanyl-laced pills, or approximately 450,000 doses, inside the car.

The suspect, identified as 32-year-old Gustavo Alonso Franco Valenzuela of Los Angeles, said the pills were destined for Portland.

Because of the large quantity of pills, Valenzuela was arrested and faces a federal charge of delivery of a controlled substance, OSP said.

The investigation is ongoing.

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