St. Landry Sheriff: Drug bust is deadly, historic

ST. LANDRY PARISH — The 5.2 pounds of fentanyl seized in a drug bust in Sunset is enough to kill 1,250,000 people, according to St. Landry Parish Sheriff Bobby Guidroz.
The fentanyl was discovered in the arrest of Benjamin I. Pittman, 43, of the 200 block of Rue Destin, Sunset, on March 23.
“This is, by far, the most significant and largest fentanyl confiscation and also the most elaborate pill manufacturing operation in the history of St. Landry Parish,” Guidroz stated in a news release on Monday.
The arrest was made by the Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Enforcement Team after hours of surveillance, including undercover investigative tools and tips from the public, to confirm the manufacturing and distribution of suspected fentanyl, marijuana, pill manufacturing and distribution, he stated.
“During the execution of the search warrant, narcotics detectives located a major pill manufacturing facility and distribution hub inside the residence, which contained different pill presses and mixers for the illegal manufacturing of pills. Detectives also located four guns, a significant amount of U.S. paper currency ($18,660.00), suspected ‘crack’ cocaine, suspected marijuana, suspected illegal manufactured xanax, hydrocodone , an assortment of other types of pills, 5.2 pounds of suspected fentanyl and packaging materials for distribution. A large amount of ingredients to complete the manufacturing of the pills, which are also known as “cutting agents”, were located. An approximate count of the assorted pills is 1,875,” the news release stated.
Guidroz noted:
— Fentanyl is 50 times stronger than heroin and 80 to 100 times stronger than morphine;
— 2 milligrams can be a considered a deadly dose to a person;
— 1 gram is equal to 1,000 milligrams and can cause death to 500 people; and
— 55.6% of drug overdoses are primarily due to fentanyl.
Pittman was booked into the St. Landry Parish Jail for the following charges:
— Possession with intent to distribute Schedule I CDS (fentanyl);
— Manufacturing of a Schedule III CDS;
— Possession with intent to distribute Schedule III CDS
— Illegal carrying of a weapon in the presence of a CDS (4 counts);
— Felon in possession of a firearm (4 counts);
— Transactions involving proceeds from drug offenses;
— Possession of drug paraphernalia; and
— Possession with intent to distribute Schedule II CDS (Hydrocodone).
Pittman’s bail was set at $150,250.