IFN Staff

Iredell County Sheriff Darren Campbell announced Thursday that ICSO narcotics investigators, working in partnership with the Gaston County Police Department, seized more than 2 kilograms of fentanyl from a home in western Iredell County.

On Wednesday, March 5, ICSO and GCPD worked together following the arrest of Marciano Pina Ulloa, 44, of Chapman Place Lane, Statesville, Campbell said.

During the arrest, investigators discovered that Ulloa was in possession of approximately 4 ounces (113 grams) of fentanyl, according to the news release. Further investigation led them to suspect that a large amount of fentanyl was stored at a residence in Iredell County, Campbell said.

Investigators from both agencies responded to Ulloa’s home off Chapman Place Lane, where they conducted a search and located an additional 4.8 pounds (2,177 grams) of suspected fentanyl, according to the news release.

Investigators also seized more than $1,0000 in cash, believed to be proceeds from drug sales, Campbell said,

The street value of the fentanyl seized in this case is estimated at $254,000, he added.

Ulloa is believed to be in the United States illegally, and his immigration status is now under review by federal authorities. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has been contacted and will be assisting in this case.

It takes only 2 milligrams of fentanyl to cause a fatal overdose. With 1,000 milligrams in a gram, a single gram has the potential to kill 500 people. Based on this calculation, the fentanyl Ulloa was carrying could have killed approximately 1,088,550 people.

“This is an incredibly dangerous drug that is killing people at an alarming rate across our nation,” Campbell said. “The amount of fentanyl seized in this case is enough to kill over a million people. We see it in our community, and we have to continue being aggressive in targeting those poisoning our citizens.”

As a result of this investigation, Ulloa has been charged in Gaston County with three counts of Trafficking in Controlled Substances and one count of Felony Maintaining a Vehicle/Dwelling for Controlled Substances.

Iredell County narcotics investigators have charged Ulloa with one count of Felony Trafficking by Possession; and one count of Felony Maintaining a Vehicle/Dwelling for Controlled Substances.