Man indicted in Arizona after 150,000 fentanyl pills confiscated

(The Center Square) – A man is facing conspiracy, illegal enterprise and narcotic drug possession sale charges for after having 150,000 fentanyl pills seized by local and federal law enforcement on Oct. 10.

Jesus Januario Sandoval Leyva was indicted by Attorney General Kris Mayes' office on Oct. 21 after the "seizure" made by the Tempe Police Department and the United States Drug Enforcement Administration, according to a news release .

"Between about August 21, 2024 and continuing thereafter up to and including about the date of October 11, 2024, Jesus Januario Sandoval aka Jesus Sandoval-Leyva, defendant herein, employed by or associated with any enterprise, conducted such enterprise's affairs through racketeering or participated directly or indirectly in the conduct of the enterprise that the person(s) knew was being conducted through racketeering," the indictment regarding the illegal enterprise charge stated.

Fentanyl seizures are a common occurrence in border-state Arizona. According to a study backed by the National Institutes of Health, 113 million pills of the potentially deadly drug were taken by law enforcement in 2023.

There are an estimated five opioid deaths in the Grand Canyon state per day, according to the health department , and many of those can be tied back to fentanyl overdoses or poisonings. Federal, local and state law enforcement each play a role in seizures – including the largest bust ever by U.S. Customs and Border Protection in July with half a ton of fentanyl. More recently, a woman who planned to fly to Atlanta from Phoenix was caught with 50,000 fentanyl pills in her checked baggage, The Center Square reported.