Dozens Arrested in Los Angeles Prescription Drug Busts
blue-and-white capsules spilling from a prescription medicine bottle across the corner of a prescription; shallow depth-of-field image with focus on the nearest capsule
A massive series of raids throughout Los Angeles County resulted in the arrest of 28 people. According to a CBS Los Angelesreport, more than 400 federal agents from the federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) worked with the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) to conduct a number of raids in the greater Los Angeles area. The enforcement action resulted after a 32-count federal indictment was handed down in January, which charged individuals of multiple drug crimes involving oxycodone and hydrochloride.
In the raids, the LAPD seized an estimated $20 million in cash and drugs. The 28 suspects face charges including drug possession, attempted possession, and distribution. Some of the individuals named in the indictment could face a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years in prison.
Oxycodone is a powerful painkiller that has gained popularity as a recreational drug. It has effects similar to heroin and is highly addictive. OxyContin and other brands of oxycodone are drugs that are illegal to possess without a prescription. Therefore, anyone who is in possession of oxycodone without a prescription can face serious penalties for possession or distribution.
