'Huge' quantity of deadly fentanyl seized in South Jersey

A “massive” quantity of fentanyl — more than 30 pounds of one of the world’s deadliest opioids — was seized Thursday in raids by law enforcement agencies at several sites in South Jersey, authorities said Friday.

Yahmire Boardley, 22, of Camden, was charged on multiple drug trafficking counts following an investigation by New Jersey State Police and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. No other arrests were announced.

"Given the tragic levels of deaths that have already been attributed to fentanyl or fentanyl-laced heroin, an arrest and seizure of this size is very significant,” said Jeremiah A. Daley, executive director of the Philadelphia-Camden High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area, which participated in the raids.

Pharmaceutical forms of fentanyl, a synthetic opioid that is up to 50 times stronger than heroin, are routinely used in hospitals to treat acute pain following surgery. The death of the musician Prince last year was attributed to the drug, although fatal overdoses from legally prescribed fentanyl are not common.

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