Luis Sanchez-Acevedo was selling more than produce at his farmers market stand, according to federal authorities, who say the illegal immigrant doled out thousands of fentanyl-laced pills among the fruit and vegetables.
The pills were also laced with xylazine, an animal sedative the Justice Department said is “extremely dangerous” to people.
Mr. Sanchez-Acevedo ran his stand at the farmers market in Forest Park, Georgia, just south of Atlanta.
Agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration learned he was selling the “tranq” pills last fall, including 3,000 in September and October. The sales occurred “from or in the vicinity of his produce stand,” prosecutors said in a statement.
Agents seized the pills and found them laced with the dangerous drugs.
Agents returned to the stand this week and arrested Mr. Sanchez-Acevedo. They recovered 1,000 more pills.
Mr. Sanchez-Acevedo is a citizen of Mexico. He was charged with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.
