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An alarming surge in drug overdoses and fatalities has been reported by law enforcement in Orange County, Florida, due to the influx of fentanyl laced with xylazine, a potent animal sedative known colloquially as “Tranq” or the “zombie drug.”
Orange County officials revealed that over the past 18 months alone, there have been 150 overdoses and nine fatalities linked to the deadly fentanyl–xylazine combination.
According to Orange County Sheriff John Mina, 80% of fentanyl seized during recent operations contained xylazine, a potent narcotic commonly used to sedate animals during veterinary surgeries.
Tranq is known for causing flesh degradation near injection sites and for leaving fentanyl addicts in a “zombie”-like stupor.
In a press conference, Mina warned that Tranq is an emerging public health threat, with overdose victims showing resistance to emergency treatments. “Perhaps the scariest thing about xylazine and its prevalence in street drugs here and throughout the country is that it is not receptive to Narcan,” he said, noting that the drug has been directly linked to three fatalities in Orange County.
Apart from tissue rot, “Tranq” induces low blood pressure, breathing difficulties and dangerously slowed heart rates, leading to potential amputations.
The drug’s devastating impact has been further highlighted by the recent dismantling of a fentanyl distribution ring by law enforcement in south Orange County.
The operation resulted in over a dozen arrests, including the alleged ringleader, Jazzmeen Montanez, who could face up to 25 years in prison if convicted.
According to Captain Darryl Blanford, undercover agents traced the origin of the fentanyl to a supplier in New Jersey and intercepted a drug mule transporting a significant quantity through Volusia County.
Blanford said the drugs were “targeting areas that already had a massive problem.”
Law enforcement officials say that drug manufacturers looking to boost profits are responsible for the exponential increase in the use of Tranq as a cutting agent for fentanyl over the past five years.
The combination extends the user’s high, ensuring their continued dependence on the drugs despite the substantial risks involved.
Blanford noted that while xylazine can be purchased from China for $100 per kilogram, fentanyl costs a staggering $50,000 for the same quantity. By cutting the pure product with Tranq, dealers can maximize profits, as a kilogram of fentanyl mixed with xylazine can produce up to 15,000 individual doses.
DEA Administrator Anne Milgram labeled Tranq as the deadliest drug threat the country has ever faced, exacerbating the already deadly dangers of fentanyl.
The ready availability of xylazine from China has even raised suspicions that some veterinarians may be involved in its illicit distribution.
The White House has designated the fentanyl–xylazine combination as an emerging threat to the United States, with warnings issued by the Food and Drug Administration, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Drug Enforcement Administration.
The Orange County Sheriff’s Office has also stepped up efforts to combat opioid trafficking, highlighting the success of its Operation Moscow Mule in busting a trafficking ring.
The agency stressed that this was only one organization among many, and that much work remains to be done.
“We’ve knocked out multiple cases like this. Xylazine is here to stay. It’s not a fad. This is a growing trend that’s probably going to be here for a few years,” Blanford said.
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