REDDING, Calif. — A 33-year-old woman, Haley Johnson, was arrested on Thursday, May 29, 2025, by the Redding Police Department for trafficking a large quantity of fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opioid responsible for a significant rise in overdose deaths nationwide.
Authorities had been investigating Johnson throughout the month for her suspected role in distributing fentanyl in the Redding area. Officers located her traveling northbound on Interstate 5 in a rental vehicle and conducted a traffic stop under a search warrant.
During the search, officers discovered 5.2 ounces (147.4 grams) of suspected fentanyl hidden in her purse. To underscore the danger, the Redding Police Department noted that just two milligrams of fentanyl can be lethal. The amount seized equates to about 147,400 milligrams—enough to potentially cause more than 73,000 fatal overdoses.
“This quantity poses a major public safety threat and could endanger entire communities,” police stated.
Due to the amount involved, Johnson may face enhanced penalties under California’s Proposition 36, which mandates stricter sentences for possession of over 100 grams of fentanyl. She faces a possible minimum of five years in state prison if convicted.
Haley Johnson was arrested at the scene and booked into the Shasta County Jail on charges of possession and transportation of narcotics for sale.
