Hundreds of fentanyl pills, more than a pound of meth seized by ISP

COEUR d'ALENE — Hundreds of fentanyl pills and more than a pound of methamphetamine were seized by law enforcement Thursday following a traffic stop at the base of Fourth of July Pass.

Idaho State Police told the Hagadone News Network that two individuals from Montana were pulled over by ISP Cpl. Seth Green around 4 p.m. on eastbound Interstate 90 near milepost 23 for a traffic infraction.

Upon making contact with the occupants, identified as Donald L. Winters, 57, of Montana and Robin L. Croskrey, 26, of South Dakota, it was determined that not only did Croskrey have an outstanding arrest warrant for forgery, but the two were in possession of a copious amount of illegal substances.

Cpl. Green explains that the duo had made the road trip to Spokane, Wash., from Montana, where they acquired approximately 350 "Mexi-blue" fentanyl pills and 1.5 pounds of methamphetamine with the intention of reselling the drugs.

After an inspection of the vehicle was completed, ISP also discovered amounts of marijuana, drug paraphernalia and three different handguns.

Both suspects were taken into custody without incident and booked into the Kootenai County Jail in Coeur d'Alene.

Winters is facing charges of trafficking Methamphetamine over one pound, possession of fentanyl with intent to deliver, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and driving under the influence. Croskrey is looking at two counts of illegally possessing a firearm, having an outstanding felony warrant, trafficking methamphetamine over one pound, possession of fentanyl with intent to deliver, possession of drug paraphernalia and providing false information to an officer.

The state of Idaho currently does not have trafficking statutes associated with fentanyl.

Green said that while the process of individuals driving from other areas of the country to the West Coast to acquire drugs for resale is not a new phenomenon, fentanyl seemingly replacing heroin in this situation is.

"They find it more plentiful and cheaper in Washington, Oregon and California, then move it east for a larger profit," he explained. "This much weight is not usual, but the trend has been around for a very long time. Fentanyl is definitely picking up and we're seeing less heroin, which is not a good thing in this case. That means they are switching to fentanyl, which is even worse."

Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid, is 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine, and up to 50 times more potent than heroin. ISP Sgt. Jess Stennett explained on Episode 43 of North Idaho Now podcast that "Mexi-blue" pills are counterfeit versions of prescribed fentanyl that are shipped into the U.S. from Mexico. With little to no quality control in its creation, the amount of fentanyl can vary from pill to pill — creating a high risk of overdose.