Seventeen arrested in Central NY in fentanyl trafficking sweep; 23 lbs seized, valued at $625K.

Seventeen people were arrested in Central New York in a major drug trafficking operation that spanned multiple counties, resulting in the seizure of over 23 pounds of fentanyl—valued at more than $625,000 and enough to potentially kill one New Yorker every six seconds for a year—along with nearly four pounds of cocaine, over 12 pounds of methamphetamine, $880,000 in cash, three illegal firearms, and two vehicles. The joint investigation, led by New York State Attorney General Letitia James’ Organized Crime Task Force, targeted a network using coded language like “fetty” for fentanyl and “ice” for methamphetamine, with key figures including Jaquan Jones, known as “Flame,” facing life sentences under state law. The operation, which ran from September 2024 to May 2025, led to 125 charges, including trafficking and conspiracy, and is part of the state’s S.U.R.G.E. Initiative.