Albuquerque, NM (KKOB) – In the last year, New Mexico’s Department of Public Safety says, they’ve seen an increase in cases involving powdered fentanyl all over the state. The latest case happened over the weekend in Deming, after several employees at a Popeye’s restaurant had to be taken to the hospital for possible exposure to the powdered substance. In this case, police were called to the restaurant due to a suspicious person was inside one of the restrooms. The man took off before police arrived, but when employees went inside the restroom they began getting sick and had to be taken to the hospital. On May 20 in Mountainair, three people died, and nearly 20 first responders were sent to the hospital. Then on June 1st, another overdose death happened in Silver City and 10 first responders were hospitalized. Fentanyl is suspected in both cases.
Jeffery Castillo with the Drug Enforcement Administration says he’s never seen this many people impacted by the drug in such a short time. The DEA responded in two of the incidents and is assisting with clean up. Officials are also warning fentanyl is being laced into other drugs, and user don’t know what they are consuming.
