Photo: confiscated drugs
Originally published as a City of Corona Police Department Facebook post –
“On March 25, 2021, at approximately 10:15 PM, task officers with the Corona Police Department conducted a traffic stop near the intersection of W. Sixth Street and Lincoln Avenue.
The traffic stop was initiated after officers observed the vehicle had a broken tail lamp. The vehicle was also noted as traveling at an extremely slow rate of speed, which is common with DUI drivers.
Officers made contact with the driver of the vehicle, Martin Gonzalez (30 years old) who was found to be unlicensed. While officers were evaluating Martin to determine if he was driving under the influence, he consented to a search of his vehicle.
During the search of Martin’s vehicle officers located approximately 15,000 counterfeit “M30” pills believed to contain fentanyl.
Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid that is similar to morphine, but is 50 to 100 times more potent. The average street value of a single “M30” pill is approximately $20 bringing the street value of the seized narcotics to approximately $300,000.
Martin was subsequently placed under arrest for various narcotics trafficking charges and transported to Riverside County Jail.”
