A South Florida woman is facing multiple felony charges after an undercover operation by Hollywood Police. The woman is accused of drug trafficking and mixing heroin with fentanyl. She was charged with trafficking fentanyl, cocaine possession and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Authorities credit an undercover investigation with the arrest of the Plantation woman, who is alleged to have been in possession of 21 bags of fentanyl with a total weight of 6.2 ounces along with crack cocaine when apprehended in her car. The woman has a history of working as a chiropractic assistant but her clinical license is currently expired.
Opioids such as fentanyl are highly addictive. When mixed with heroin, they create a potentially toxic mix for drug users. The nationwide opioid epidemic has been a focus of national debate, and cracking down on the illegal sale of opioids is a focus for law enforcement. According to numbers from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, over 42,000 people died from opioid overdoses in 2016, and the numbers continue to rise. Opioids are a class of drugs derived from poppy plants and include the brand names OxyContin and Vicodin. Also included are illegal heroin and synthetic fentanyl, which chemically mimics natural opioids.
The emphasis on reducing opioid proliferation has led to hard line tactics from some prosecutors when it comes to plea bargains. For the accused, it is important to retain an experienced criminal defense attorney. Alleged offenders are often users with addiction issues, and a lawyer can incorporate treatment plans into plea negotiations if a finding of guilty seems likely. When faced with felony drug charges, there is no substitute for the guidance of an attorney.
