A California man is under investigation after he was stopped on Interstate 70 in Golden on suspicion of transporting more than seven pounds of fentanyl.
Gladimir Jesus Gamez, 33, has been charged with one count of possession with intent to sell fentanyl and one special offender count of introducing or importing into Colorado. He allegedly had 7.46 pounds of fentanyl in his car, according to a news release from the First Judicial District Attorney’s Office.
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency estimates a lethal dose of Fentanyl to be 2 milligrams.
A Colorado State Patrol trooper, who works with the smuggling, trafficking and interdiction section, stopped on Feb. 20 a white Nissan sedan with California plates on westbound I-70 near 6th Avenue for illegally changing lanes, First Judicial District spokeswoman Pam Russell said. The trooper asked for Gamez’s ID and noticed it was a California license. He asked to search the vehicle, and Gamez consented.
Three large bricks of fentanyl hidden inside a cooler, the news release said.
Gamez claimed that everything in the car belonged to him and that the female passenger was not involved. Gamez is being held at the Jefferson County Jail on $500,000 bond, according to the news release. He will appear in court for a preliminary hearing at 9:30 a.m., March 20.
