Hamilton County narcotics officers seized nearly an ounce of heroin laced with Carfentanil and fentanyl from a vehicle traveling near Cincinnati.
Police say that the Regional Narcotics Units stopped 27-year-old Kendall Cunningham while he and Malik Bowman, 21, were driving north on I-75. Officers smelled marijuana during the traffic stop, and a subsequent search of their rental vehicle uncovered marijuana, cocaine and an unknown pink substance.
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Officers did not field test the substance, instead submitting it directly to the Hamilton County Coroners Lab. An official with the lab confirmed on Thursday that the pink powder was heroin laced with Carfentanil and fentanyl.
Cunningham was found to be driving under suspension and had five outstanding warrants for his arrest. He is charged with drug abuse and trafficking for the cocaine found in the vehicle.
Bowman was charged with drug abuse and trafficking for the marijuana found in the vehicle.
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A Hamilton County Grand Jury was presented with the Carfentanil evidence for their consideration for additional charges in an indictment against the men.
According to police, the amount of heroin and Carfentanil seized is a relatively small quantity. However, given the potency of carfentanil, police say the amount posed a serious threat to heroin users in the Cincinnati area. About two milligrams of carfentanil, the most potent commercially used opioid, can knock out a 200-pound elephant.
