A South Florida man was arrested Thursday night after authorities say they found two kilos of fentanyl during a traffic stop on Interstate 75 in south Fort Myers.
According to the Lee County Sheriff's Office, detectives with the Tactical Narcotics Team stopped a rental car near Colonial Boulevard around 10 p.m.
After a K-9 unit alerted to possible drugs in the vehicle, deputies searched the car and found two tightly sealed packages of fentanyl hidden behind the passenger seat.
The passenger, identified as James Pitts, 39, from Broward County, was arrested at the scene.
Detectives say Pitts is connected to a drug trafficking network responsible for moving large amounts of fentanyl from the East Coast to Lee County.
“This is a major arrest,” Sheriff Carmine Marceno said in a statement. “I am beyond proud of my Narcotics Unit for arresting this career offender who is trafficking deadly poison into Lee County. I will not allow dealers from anywhere to distribute poison on our streets.”
The investigation originated from the Collier County Sheriff's Office and is ongoing.
DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more.