Buckeye Police Strike Gold: 8,000 Fentanyl Pills Confiscated in Weekend Bust

By Matthew Holloway |

The Buckeye Police Department has confirmed the seizure of 8,000 fentanyl pills following a traffic stop near Yuma Road and Verrado Way. Officers initiated the stop after noticing an SUV committing multiple traffic violations. During the encounter, it was revealed that the driver’s license was suspended and at least two passengers had outstanding arrest warrants.

A thorough search of the vehicle uncovered eight bags, each containing 1,000 of the dangerous M-30 fentanyl pills. All four individuals in the SUV were arrested on-site.

Despite a decrease in drug-related offenses in 2023 compared to 2021, recent reports indicate a concerning upward trend after reaching a multiyear low in 2022. Drug-related crimes now account for about 12% of the total crime rates in Buckeye, ranking behind theft and property destruction.

Earlier this year, the Common Sense Institute Arizona (CSI) published a report titled “Arizona’s Ongoing Fentanyl Crisis,” highlighting alarming statistics. Opioid-related hospital encounters surged from 41,400 to 56,600 between 2015 and 2019, marking an increase of approximately 37%. The report also noted that the Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS) witnessed a staggering 665% rise in fentanyl seizures from 239 to an estimated 1,828 pounds between 2020 and 2022. Nationally, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) reported a 320% increase in fentanyl seizures from 2019 to 2024.

According to the DEA’s National Drug Threat Assessment for 2024, the ongoing epidemic of drug poisoning deaths in the U.S. is primarily driven by fentanyl produced by Mexican cartels, who rely on precursor chemicals sourced from China.

Matthew Holloway is a reporter for AZ Free News. For the latest updates, follow him on X or send tips to Matthew@azfreenews.com.