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Sheriff: Enough Fentanyl Seized In Escambia County Raids To Kill 800,000 People
December 17, 2022
During “Operation Blue Christmas” over the past week, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office seized enough fentanyl fentanyl to kill 800,000 people.
“We had enough lethal fentanyl to kill 800,000,” Sheriff Chip Simmons said. “That’s enough to conceivably kill every person in Escambia County, Santa Rosa County, Okaloosa County and Walton County — and probably a few of the neighboring counties as well…That tells you how dangerous this is.”
The drugs and multiple weapons were seized during the execution of five different search warrants that netted seven arrests with more expected. Marcus Shaun Williams, 44, and Andrion Russell Battle, 46, were among the arrests; the other names have not yet been announced.
Battle remained in the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $300,000, while Williams was released on a $300,000 bond.
Simmons said authorities seized:
- 1,600 grams of fentanyl
- 30,268 grams of ecstasy, much of it mixed with fentanyl
- 681 grams of meth
- 1.25 kilos of crack cocaine
- 229 grams of powder cocaine
- 25 pounds of marijuana
- 16 guns
- 3 vehicles.
“We are committed to stopping these people that are ruining our neighborhoods,” Simmons said. “We are committed to stopping the ones bringing this stuff in, we are committed to stopping the ones selling it and opening up their homes for this type of dangerous behavior. Our Narcotics Unit has just been knocking it out of the park — and they’ve only begun.”
The search warrants were served in the 100 block of Diego Circle, 3000 block of West Lloyd Street, 7000 block of Chapel Street, 4400 block of Cora Lane, and the 3700 block of West Jackson Street.
The operation was named “Operation Blue Christmas” due to the season and a blueish color of many of the pills containing fentanyl.
“This is a Christmas present to these neighborhoods,” Simmons said. “Believe me, it’s probably better than any gift they’re gonna have.”
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Comments
23 Responses to “Sheriff: Enough Fentanyl Seized In Escambia County Raids To Kill 800,000 People”
Those charges and that firepower?
What did they have to loose…..
Hopefully the authorities will roll up the whole distribution network. These guys were regional distributors, but they sure weren’t the kingpins. I’m thinking they flipped the guy who bailed out and he’ll be working for the DEA until trial and sentencing.
These are the guys you want to keep in prison. $30000 cash bail isn’t enough to keep them from leaving the country.
Solution:
Take them to trial, Evidence finds them Guilty, then take them to the Train Station.
Hey I’ll buy that Smith revolver on the right.
No one asked so I’m asking how many of the fire arms were stolen
@David Huie Green
“Possible uses and intended uses”
Possessing that much Fen, there is only one possible use and intended use”
Sales and intent.
Cover both “possible and intended use.
Its called drug dealers and death.
Where its 1 or 800k deaths…the intent and possible was there.
All that is known with intent by the seller and user and its no issue by them.
You dont have to purposely take this trash drug to OD and die.
Just breath or get contaminated by the dust as a innocent standing next to the drug.
There is no concerned distinction by any trash drug dealer.
Enough said!
Well good job! Now laws and statues states one must be offered a bond under certain conditions. It wouldn’t matter if they had a bond or not if an addict wants something there’s always the next guy in line that is waiting to take the plane of the ones arrested it’s a never ending battle. It’s called the war on drugs and its been going now for how many years now and will continue for many more years unfortunately. Good job ECSO
Just a guess; Their goal was not to kill 800,000. More likely to sell 8 million to 80 million hits to continuing customers. A gallon of legal whiskey should be able to kill a few people if they drank it all the at once. That’s not the purpose, though.
I’m not justifying drug sales, just making the distinction between possible uses and intended uses.
David for better choices
Great job esco for the work on the south end now work yalls way to the Cantonment and Molino and century way but nice job lady’s and gentlemen
And this will continue to be a problem due to the lack of border enforcement by our so called leadership. Also I believe that these drugs are flowing from China. Just remember that next time you purchase a cheaply priced item.
This stuff is no joke. Nice job this garbage off the street.
Honestly I’m more bothered by the cut ecstasy than by anything else. Odds are the people that bought that had no idea whatsoever they were being given fentanyl. That should amount to attempted murder charges and no bond should be given at all.
GREAT JOB, E.S.C.O.! Please keep it up and mop up our county. Sweep out the trash. Now, if the law enforcement officers can figure out how to keep the streets clean. With the bleeding hearts in the judicial system, they will be back in business in no time.
Why let them out on Bond? If one dose will kill a person and they are in possesion of 1000 doses then their intent is to kill a 1000 people. The Judge that releases an of them should be required to take a dose to see if it’s deadly.
Bond, Really?
Many thanks to this awesome Narcotics Unit!! You guy/gals are kicking butt! Keep it up and may God protect all of you as you serve the citizens. Seriously great work!!
@Discusting…those dealers don’t care about others or their life. All they care about is that next $20. So what if a “customer/lick” dies, there will be another that will be knocking on their door in 10-20 minutes to get their fix. I’m glad I kicked my habit years ago or I would probably be under a tombstone by now because I didn’t care. I just wanted more!
Great job Sheriff Simmons and to YOUR officers that are getting OUR streets cleaned up and making our neighborhoods safe again.
It’s hard for me to understand (even with my past) how these “users” will continue playing Russian Roulette with their lives knowing this mess is out there and killing people.it’s just sad.
At Miss Charlotte Bates…I like that idea of using the money from ALL drug seizures to feed the community and to help out with taking care of those less fortunate.
Congratulations to my old friend for doing a great job…yall call him Sheriff, I call him Coach Chip…GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR POLICE FORCE
Great job ECSO! Please implore the judges to be strict and NO BAIL! These kinds of people need to stay off our streets!
Thank you Escambia County Sherriff’s …..
God be with you all as you faithfully continue to protect the citizens of where we call home.
Just why poison other people? Is that money worth it?? Glad your disease is under lock down!! Hope the streets continue to get cleaned up!!
I just thought of another thing. All that money, that you see in the picture, should go towards feeding the people that could use some help, and maybe buy gifts for their kids this Christmas. Just a thought.
Another good way to win the battle would be not to give them any bond. They get out, they’ll, more than likely, find more to sell. All the expense and work finding these people, is not worth it if they are set free, to do the same thing again.
I know legislators have brought up more severe penalties for this poison (WMD, etc) but they need to really make this a very SERIOUS crime and SOON.