Enough Fentanyl to kill four million people

Clay County Sheriff Michele Cook and Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody held a news conference at the sheriff’s office on Wednesday, announcing the arrest of two Clay County men and the seizure of 8.5 kilograms of Fentanyl.

Moody said the nearly 19-pound seizure of the synthetic opioid is enough Fentanyl to kill four million people. Jason Setzer, 46, of Orange Park was charged with conspiracy to traffic more than two kilograms of fentanyl, trafficking in more than 700 grams of fentanyl, trafficking in cocaine, trafficking in amphetamine, possession of more than 20 grams of marijuana and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Alvin Mercado, 38, of Fleming Island was arrested for conspiracy to traffic in more than two kilograms of fentanyl and trafficking in more than four grams of fentanyl. Setzer is being held on a $17.1 million bond, while his co-defendant remains in jail on a $10 million bond.

Cook said the investigation began after her agency received a tip that the defendants were receiving large shipments of illegal narcotics from California through the U.S. Postal Service and then paying for the shipments by mailing back to the Golden State large quantities of currency. The shipments were received by the post offices in Fleming Island and Orange Park, before being delivered to addresses controlled by Mercado. The 38-year-old Fleming Island man then transported the drugs to an Orange Park residence rented by Setzer, where the pair prepared the narcotics for street distribution. “These distributors would push these drugs into every corner of our community,” Cook said.