Hardly a day passes without law enforcement dealing with cases of drug trafficking in the United States.
The criminals involved have evolved to using dark web markets in acquiring and distributing their products anonymously.
However, special police units like the DEA are working round the clock to uncover not only the street drug battles, but also the dark web-related cases.
Recently, police in Raleigh, North Carolina arrested three brothers who were suspected of running a drug operation from their apartments.
According to the police report, the three brothers are said to have dealt with counterfeit pills containing Xanax as well as the deadly fentanyl.
On May 31st, two of the brothers, identified as Atsouste Dossou and Etse Dossou, both 21 years old, were arrested by the law enforcement.
Later, the police confirmed the arrest of the third brother, Atsou Dossou.
The Investigations
It was after the police received a tip from the public that the three brothers were dealing with a large amount of Xanax pills that they decided to start an immediate investigation into the case.
Raleigh police acquired a search warrant both for the brother's premises and their Gmail and Facebook accounts.
Their residents were at SkyHouse apartments on S.Blount Street where Atsouste lived, plus the Hue apartments on Hargett Street where Etse lived.
According to the clerk from SkyHouse apartments, the suspects received quite a number of packages over the past several months.
The police strongly believe that the packages contained the fentanyl pill press and the counterfeit pills.
According to the police detectives, back in August 2017, the Garner police had an insider who claimed that the brothers used the dark web to order drugs.
Precisely, he claimed that the brothers ordered 10,000 fentanyl pills and up to 100,000 Xanax bars per order from the dark web.
This significant quantity of drugs attracted the attention of the police to arrest the three brothers, keeping in mind fentanyl has been a major setback in the health sector in most U.S. states, pushing the current administration to abolish any opioid import or usage.
The police collaborated with the informant to set up a trap that would see the three brothers cooperate.
The police informant messaged one of the brothers, Atsouste, through Facebook with a request for 1,000 counterfeit Xanax bars.
Arrangements for the delivery were made, which the police took note of everything to be used as court evidence.
Atsouste delivered the Xanax bars with a red Porsche Cayenne, oblivious of the police's plan.
Another delivery was arranged between the informant and the brothers to get more information about their business.
A similar quantity of Xanax bars was ordered, but Atsouste claimed his supply was running low at the time.
As the police were following up on the suspect, they noticed Atsouste pullover at a gas station along Jones Sausage Road where he switched cars.
After three hours, he returned to his vehicle and contacted the police informant assuring him of the delivery.
This gave the police a concrete exhibit to present in court to the judge.
Criminal Charges Pressed Against the Three Brothers
The three brothers are facing criminal charges in the court of law that might see them locked behind bars for a few years.
It was later when the Holly Springs police uncovered the drug trafficking gang of brothers had been a major supplier of drugs to high school students, mostly providing to students of Holly Springs High School.
Atsouste Dossou was charged with acquiring and distributing schedule IV drugs. He was further charged with the intent of manufacturing, selling and delivering schedule IV drugs.
Etse, on the other hand, was charged with conspiracy to sell and deliver schedule IV drugs.
The list of charges pressed against him also included possessing, manufacturing, selling and distributing schedule IV drugs.
Atsou Dossou was charged with the trafficking of opium, specifically heroin. He was also charged with the intent to manufacture plus distribute schedule IV drugs.
Atsouste has been booked for a court hearing which will take place in August, whereas his brothers will be in court in September.
A Worrying Trend
Government statistics and private organizations have been reporting on the counterfeit pills made from fentanyl flooding the United States.
The deadly drug is ravaging communities across all races and states.
The devastating thing about it is that most of the affected people are the young generation who have been using the drugs profusely.
The dark web markets have been a significant contributing factor to the prevalence of the counterfeit pills in communities across the country.
What makes these pills deadly is the fact that their content cannot be ascertained to specific ingredients, causing irreparable damage to the body, if not death from overdose.
China has been blamed for the manufacture and sale of counterfeit pills containing fentanyl and other content.
Most Americans buy the drugs obliviously. North Carolina has faced a large number of counterfeit pill cases in the last decade, with most of them leading to the death of the victims.
More and more young people from North Carolina are indulging themselves with the dark web activities in the name of pleasure and making extra cash.
Experts are warning of dire effects of exposure to some of these drugs.
With even high school students involving themselves with the illegal use and sale of drugs like fentanyl and Xanax, it shows the devastating scenario the community may be in the next few decades.
North Carolina government officials are working together with all relevant agencies mandated with fighting drugs to educate the community about the demerits of these drugs.
The three brothers from Raleigh will remain in the police custody for further investigation into the case while awaiting their court hearing.
The police detectives are pleased with their bust as it has brought down a notorious drug trafficking source and will likely serve as a notable case for their anti-drug initiatives moving forward.
