RIVERSIDE – (INT) – Investigators have disclosed the largest seizure of carfentanil in Riverside County with the arrests of a Perris man and woman.

The 21 kilos of carfentanil is an analog of the man-made opioid, fentanyl. It is highly regulated and not intended for use by humans. Carfentanil is 100 times more powerful than fentanyl and 10,000 times more potent than morphine. The carfentanil seized could have been enough to potentially kill more than 50 million people, the Riverside County DA’s office said.

Andres Jesus Morales, 30, and Alyssa Christine Ponce, 27, pleaded not guilty to four felonies at their arraignment Thursday and were held without bail.

Riverside police spearheaded the investigation and served search warrants at two homes in Perris seizing 21 kilos of carfentanil, 20 kilos of cocaine, and one kilo of heroin.

Story Date: October 1, 2021