A Long Island man was arrested and indicted after New York authorities seized enough fentanyl to “kill every man woman and child on Long Island” in a drug bust on September 25, according to a press release from the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office.
Suffolk County officials say they seized 33 pounds of narcotics, including 15 pounds of fentanyl and 17.5 pounds of cocaine. District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney referred to it as a “staggering” amount of drugs, which could have killed 3.5 million people.
Remon Gibson, 43, of Bellport, Long Island, has been charged with operating as a major trafficker, criminal possession of a controlled substance in the first degree, criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree, criminally using drug paraphernalia, and endangering the welfare of a child, according to the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office.
Small vials of fentanyl photographed on June 1, 2018 in Salt Lake City, Utah. A Long Island man was recently arrested for drug possession and trafficking after authorities seized “enough fentanyl to kill everyone on Long Island” at the end of September.
Rick Bowmer/Associated Press
Police also say they seized approximately $80,000 in cash, a drug ledger, and kilo presses including one they allege is used for bricks of fentanyl and cocaine, stamped “COVID-19” at the bust, which officials say took place in Gibson’s home.
Some of the fentanyl was allegedly found on a nightstand in Gibson’s bedroom, which is located near his children’s room, according to officials.
Cocaine was allegedly discovered behind a backyard shed in a hidden trap.
Newsweek reached out to Gibson’s attorney’s law firm for comment from him via a form on their website outside of business hours.
Gibson’s attorney George Duncan told ABC7NY, “My client maintains his innocence. We look forward to defending the allegations in the courtroom. We will evaluate the discovery to see if it supports the claims made by the district attorney.”
District Attorney Tierney said, “This case underscores our unwavering commitment to dismantling drug operations that threaten our communities.”
The search was conducted by the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office, the police department, the District Attorney’s Fentanyl Task Force, and members of the DEA New York’s Drug Enforcement Task Force.
Newsweek also reached out to the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department for comment via email outside of business hours.
Gibson will return to court on November 8 and if convicted of the major trafficking charge, he faces a minimum of 15 years to life in prison, per the press release.
Drug overdose deaths from fentanyl and other synthetic opioids increased from 11 percent in 2010 to 78 percent in 2021 in the state, according to the Office of the New York State Comptroller.
Nationally, overdose deaths from fentanyl in 2023 reached 74,702, and decreased from 76,226 in 2022, according to the CDC.
Do you have a story we should be covering? Do you have any questions about this article? Contact LiveNews@newsweek.com.
