RENO, Nev. (KOLO) — Hoza Del Collins, 30, has been arrested and faces multiple felony charges, including second-degree murder and supplying drugs to Nevada and California prisons, according to the Nevada Department of Corrections.
On Thursday, Aug. 21, a joint operation led by the Office of the Inspector General and the Eastern Nevada Narcotics Task Force executed a warrant at Del Collins’ home in Las Vegas. During the search, officers discovered toxic substances suspected to be used in the production of synthetic drugs that were distributed within state prisons.
Del Collins is now booked into the Clark County Detention Center and charged with:
Felony second-degree murder (supplying substances that caused death)
Felony transporting or selling Schedule III, IV, or V controlled substances
Felony furnishing controlled substances to a state prisoner
Del Collins had previously served prison time for burglary from February 2017 to February 2018.
His arrest comes amid a spike in prison-related deaths in Nevada, where synthetic drug use is suspected in multiple cases. These substances have caused severe health issues in inmates, including overdoses, loss of consciousness, violence, brain injuries, and even death.
In response to the growing crisis, the Nevada Department of Corrections has partnered with external companies to deploy drug detection systems for mail, illegal phone tracking, and AI-based surveillance tools.
Additionally, the department is forming new committees that include former inmates, researchers, advocates, and IT experts to help combat prison drug trafficking from multiple angles.
