Who:
Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office
Investigative Operations Bureau
- Narcotics Division
- Robbery/ Homicide Unit

St. Petersburg Police Department

Clearwater Police Department

What:
A press conference was held today to bring awareness to an increasing number of deaths from overdoses attributed to counterfeit pills in Pinellas County.

When:
The press conference was held at 4:00 p.m. on Monday, March 21, 2016.

Where:
The press conference was held at the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office Administration Building located at 10750 Ulmerton Road in Largo.

Why/How:
On March 21^st, 2016 Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri hosted a press conference with representatives from the St. Petersburg Police Department, and the Clearwater Police Department to bring awareness to an increasing number of deaths from overdoses attributed to counterfeit pills in Pinellas County.

Between January 2016 and March 2016, there have been 9 overdose deaths in Pinellas County. Three of those cases were a result of victims overdosing on “street purchased” counterfeit Xanax pills. It was confirmed that these victims actually died from a lethal mixture of the drug Fentanyl and Xanax. Six overdose deaths are strongly suspected of being related to the same type of counterfeit Xanax/ Fentanyl pills.

These overdose related death cases have all taken place from Largo south to St. Petersburg within the last two months.

Between October 2015 and January 2016, there were three overdose deaths that were attributed to the drug U-47700.

In addition, between January 2016 and March 2016, law enforcement officers have recovered similar counterfeit Xanax/Fentanyl pills in nine separate cases county wide. These counterfeit pills were produced to imitate the same size, shape, and same markings as Xanax pills.

Fentanyl is an extremely potent drug. Fentanyl is about “80 times more potent than Morphine and about 50 times more potent than pure heroine” Sheriff Gualtieri said. The drug is commonly used for pain and is often used with cancer patients.

The source of this substance is unknown at this time; however, it does appear to be limited to Pinellas County. Sheriff Gualtieri warned citizens “to stop buying Xanax on the street” and to only use drugs prescribed by your doctor and purchased from a pharmacy.

Visit our You Tube page to see the entire press conference: https://youtu.be/ZMTVM-vsv1I