TASK FORCE INVESTIGATION ARRESTS TWO AND SEIZES ONE KILO OF SUSPECTED FENTANYL
Buffalo, NY – Erie County Sheriff John C. Garcia reports the arrest of two individuals following the execution of a vehicle search warrant on Friday, April 28, 2023.
In a joint investigation with FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force, Erie County Sheriff’s deputies, and detectives performed a traffic stop on Interstate 90 near Exit 49. During the stop, Sheriff’s Narcotics Detection K9, Bo, made a positive alert for narcotics.
A search warrant for the vehicle was applied for and granted by Judge Debra Givens. During the search, deputies and federal agents discovered one kilo of suspected fentanyl.
The operator of the vehicle, 44-year-old Robert Hernandez, and the passenger, 49-year-old Reinaldo Gonzales, both reportedly from the Dominican Republic, were taken into custody and will be charged federally.
Sheriff John C. Garcia stated, “The danger that fentanyl poses to our community and to those within our correctional facilities cannot be ignored. I promised to dedicate resources to remove this deadly poison from our streets. This seizure has undoubtedly saved lives. I want to thank the deputies, detectives, officers, and agents that worked diligently on this investigation.”
Members Niagara County Sheriff’s Office and the Niagara Falls Police Department also assisted with the investigation.
The defendants will be arraigned in federal court at a future date.
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