A Georgia woman has been taken into custody after law enforcement officers found an alarming 25 kilograms of fentanyl in her vehicle. This quantity of the potent drug is enough to potentially cause the death of an estimated 12 million people. The woman, 34-year-old Celia Lara-Rios, was accompanied by a minor at the time of her arrest.
Lara-Rios is now facing serious charges, including fentanyl trafficking and the use of a communication device in the commission of a felony, as per court records. The arrest occurred on July 14 during a traffic stop near Lara-Rios’ home in Lawrenceville. Authorities have stated that Lara-Rios was knowingly in possession of the fentanyl, which weighed nearly 55 pounds or 24,958 grams. This seizure is considered one of the largest in the history of Georgia.
In addition to the drug-related charges, Lara-Rios is also being investigated for having a child in the vehicle at the time of her arrest. A bond hearing was scheduled for the subsequent Friday, but her legal counsel opted to waive it, as reported by a local Atlanta news outlet.
Prosecutors have suggested that Lara-Rios may have ties to the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, a group that federal authorities have identified as one of the world’s most violent and prolific drug trafficking organizations. This cartel has previously made headlines when one of its leaders, who had faked his own death, was arrested last year while living a lavish lifestyle. The individual, Cristian Fernando Gutierrez-Ochoa, is the son-in-law of the cartel’s leader, Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, also known as “El Mencho.” Gutierrez-Ochoa is currently facing charges of international drug trafficking and money laundering following his arrest in California.
The Drug Enforcement Administration has indicated that a mere 2 milligrams of fentanyl can be lethal, depending on the individual’s size, tolerance, and history of usage. This makes the quantity found in Lara-Rios’ possession particularly alarming.
As for Lara-Rios, her release from the Gwinnett County Jail appears unlikely in the near future. She currently has a no-bond status, and officials from Immigration and Customs Enforcement have placed a hold on her. The date of her next court appearance remains uncertain.