Alleged fentanyl trafficker is arrested in Arcadia for drugs worth $1.3 million

An alleged fentanyl trafficker was arrested in Arcadia with almost 40 pounds of the deadly drug worth at least $1.3 million on the street, officials announced today.

Michael Edward Flores was arrested while transporting fentanyl and cocaine, California Attorney General Rob Bonta said. The drugs are suspected of having originated in Mexico.

A felony complaint filed April 28 in Los Angeles Superior Court charges Edwards with possession for sale of a controlled substance, transportation of a controlled substance, and possession of a controlled substance while armed.

“We have arrested another fentanyl trafficker who was poisoning our communities and profiting off addiction,” Bonta said in a statement. “If you traffic fentanyl, we will find you, we will prosecute you, and we will hold you accountable to the fullest extent of the law.”

“This fight is about more than one criminal,” he said. “It is about confronting the fentanyl epidemic that has devastated families across our nation. I would like to thank my team, for investigating and prosecuting this case. Their dedication to eradicating fentanyl is saving countless lives one bust at a time.”

Bonta said the investigation by the California Department of Justice led to the arrest, along with the seizure of over 37 pounds of powder fentanyl — more than 8.5 million doses — 2.2 pounds of cocaine and a handgun.

Flores’ age, hometown and arrest date were not immediately available.

Since April 2022, the California DOJ has seized nearly 17.3 million fentanyl pills, 7,167 pounds of powder and made more than 620 arrests related to fentanyl, the AG said Thursday.

In 2023, DOJ developed the Fentanyl Enforcement Program in response to an emerging California fentanyl epidemic. The program houses three teams —in Los Angeles, San Diego and Dublin, in Alameda County. The goal of the initiative is to identify and dismantle fentanyl distribution organizations throughout the state.