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JACKSON, Miss. – On Wednesday, July 2, agents with the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics (MBN) and the Philadelphia Police Department (PPD) executed a search warrant at a residence in Philadelphia, Mississippi, following the arrest of 40-year-old DeAndrew Hudson for sale of a controlled substance.
During Hudson's arrest agents observed a pill press along with assorted illegal narcotics at his residence.
"Great work by the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics and the Philadelphia Police Department in getting dangerous counterfeit drugs off the streets," said Mississippi Department of Public Safety Commissioner Sean Tindell. "These fake pills, made with a pill press, were being sold in our communities and could have easily cost someone their life. Thank you all for a job well done!"
Agents located and seized the following items:
- Over 600 counterfeit pharmaceutical narcotics manufactured to resemble legal pharmaceutical pills such as: Hydrocodone, Tylenol, Percocet (M30), and Ecstasy.
- Approximately 11 pounds of Fentanyl combined with pill binder.
- Approximately 840 grams of Marijuana
- Approximately 33 grams of crack cocaine
- Approximately 14.8 grams of Hydrocodone powder combined with pill binder.
- One pill press utilized in the manufacture of counterfeit pharmaceuticals pills.
- One binder mixer that was actively in the mixing process.
Hudson was charged with the following:
- One count of violation of the Victoria Huggins Pill Press Law.
- Trafficking of Hydrocodone
- Trafficking of cocaine
- Possession of Percocet (M30)
- All of the above listed charges are enhanced with being within 1500 feet of a church.
Analysis by the Mississippi Crime Lab indicated the presence of Fentanyl in the counterfeit pills designed to look like Tylenol. The lab also detected Fentanyl and Tramadol in the counterfeit pills designed to resemble Percocet (M30). The counterfeit pills designed to resemble Hydrocodone were found to contain actual Hydrocodone along with pill binder. The pills designed to look like Ecstasy pills were found to contain methamphetamine.
“The Philadelphia Police Department would like to express gratitude to all agencies involved in the successful seizure and removal of the drug manufacturing material found inside the City of Philadelphia," said Philadelphia Police Chief Eric Lyons. "The partnership and resources available to us through these agencies are vital in ensuring that the safety of our community.”