MIAMI, FL – Two individuals from Texas, Jose Luis Martinez, 27, and Valeria Nohemi Villicana, 26, have been arrested for trafficking 30,000 fentanyl pills from Houston to Miami, authorities said. The couple faces charges of fentanyl trafficking and possession of a controlled substance.
The Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office, in collaboration with the FBI, began an investigation in April after receiving a tip from a confidential informant. The tip indicated that a man and woman were transporting a large quantity of fentanyl pills to Miami. Investigators quickly identified the suspects as Martinez and Villicana and traced them to a hotel near Fort Lauderdale Airport, where they were staying.
An undercover detective arranged a controlled purchase with Villicana. Upon her arrival with Martinez, both were arrested. In their possession were five bags containing a total of 3,402 grams of blue fentanyl pills, the arrest report stated.
“This case highlights the importance of collaboration and hard work by our detectives and federal partners,” said the sheriff’s office in a statement. Both suspects are now facing significant charges related to fentanyl trafficking and drug possession.
