Collier County man nabbed in massive fentanyl bust

A yearlong investigation led to the arrest of Jose Manuel Pereyorosello, 35, from Panama City, marking one of the largest fentanyl seizures in the history of the Collier County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO).

Pereyorosello faces charges for trafficking 28 grams or more of fentanyl, according to a recent article by FOX4.

Sheriff Kevin Rambosk praised the arrest as a clear indication of the agency’s dedication to breaking down the networks of suppliers and distributors of illegal fentanyl. “Our investigations extend beyond the arrests of the dealers and the buyers; we are also targeting the suppliers,” he stated.

According to investigators, Pereyorosello was accountable for providing 10,634 pills laced with fentanyl, which were confiscated during a search warrant carried out at a residence in Golden Gate Estates on June 27, 2023. A couple residing at that location was previously arrested by detectives on charges of fentanyl trafficking.

The confiscated fentanyl had a weight of 2.37 pounds (1,063.4 grams), enough to potentially cause the deaths of over 531,000 individuals—surpassing the total population of Collier County, as reported by investigators. The pills are reported to be crafted to look like “30 M” oxycodone hydrochloride 30 mg prescription pills, creating a significant overdose risk for individuals who thought they were taking authentic medication.

During the seizure, Sheriff Rambosk described it as one of the largest in the history of CCSO and commended the Vice and Narcotics Bureau detectives for their exceptional efforts. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration has observed a concerning trend where criminal networks are increasingly masking fentanyl as prescription painkillers.

After the discovery, detectives persisted in their investigation and located Pereyorosello in Bay County, where he was apprehended. He has since been extradited to Collier County and is now being held without bond.

This article originally appeared on FOX4