Tennessee detectives seize 16 pounds of fentanyl, 21 kilos of heroin

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Detectives in Tennessee seized 16 pounds of fentanyl as part of a Drug Enforcement Agency Task Force investigation in Nashville, authorities said.

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Carlos Batey, 44, of Hendersonville, faces charges linked to the drug seizure after four search warrants were executed by the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office after a three-month investigation, WZTV reported.

Batey is charged with possession with intent to sell more than 300 grams of methamphetamine, possession with intent to sell more than 150 grams of fentanyl, possession with intent to sell more than 150 grams of heroin, and possession of a weapon by a convicted felon, WZTV reported.

In addition to the fentanyl, detectives also found 21 kilograms of heroin, 4 pounds of methamphetamine, 28 grams of cocaine, 7 grams of crushed blue pills, 30 grams of blue fentanyl pills and five kilo presses, the television station reported.

The search also yielded four firearms, including two 9 mm handguns, a .44 caliber revolver and an Anderson AR-15 556 rifle, an undetermined amount of cash, seven vehicles and a flatbed trailer, WSMV reported.

According to the sheriff’s office, Batey used four locations to store, manufacture and distribute various types of narcotics, The Tennessean reported.

“One kilogram (2.2 pounds) has the potential to kill 500,000 people,” a DEA fact sheet noted. “Two milligrams of fentanyl can be lethal depending on a person’s body size, tolerance and past usage.”

“We will never be able to determine the number of lives saved by this large seizure of Heroin and fentanyl,” Rutherford County Sheriff Mike Fitzhugh said in a statement.

Batey was arrested on June 9 and was being held at the Davidson County Jail, The Tennessean reported. His bail was set at $240,000.

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