Authorities in Georgia say they’ve made one of the state’s largest fentanyl seizures after arresting a 34-year-old woman allegedly connected to the notorious Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG).
Celia Lara-Rios was taken into custody during a July 14 traffic stop near her home in Lawrenceville after police say they found 25 kilos of fentanyl — about 55 pounds — inside her car, where a child was also present.
Enough Fentanyl to Kill Millions
Investigators said the seized fentanyl — weighing 24,958 grams — was enough to potentially kill around 12 million people, given that just 2 milligrams can be deadly depending on a person’s size and tolerance. Officials described the bust as one of the most significant drug seizures in Georgia’s history.
Charges Against Lara-Rios
Court records show Lara-Rios has been charged with:
Trafficking fentanyl
Use of a communication device in the commission of a felony
She was scheduled for a bond hearing on Friday, but her attorney waived it. Lara-Rios is currently being held without bond at the Gwinnett County Jail. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has also placed a hold on her, making her release unlikely anytime soon.
Alleged Ties to Cartel
Prosecutors told local media that Lara-Rios has ties to the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) — a powerful and violent Mexican cartel that U.S. authorities call one of the world’s most dangerous drug-trafficking organizations.
CJNG has been linked to international drug smuggling, money laundering, and violent crime across multiple countries. Last year, federal agents arrested Cristian Fernando Gutierrez-Ochoa, the son-in-law of cartel leader Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, also known as “El Mencho,” who is wanted by U.S. law enforcement.
The Growing Fentanyl Crisis
Fentanyl remains the leading cause of drug overdose deaths in the U.S. According to the DEA, even a small dose can be lethal. Seizures of fentanyl continue to rise nationwide as traffickers push the drug across state and national borders.
The arrest of Celia Lara-Rios and the seizure of 25 kilos of fentanyl in Georgia underscores the deadly reach of cartel-driven drug trafficking in the U.S. With enough fentanyl to kill millions of people, the case highlights both the scale of the ongoing crisis and the risks posed by international cartels like CJNG.
Lara-Rios remains jailed without bond, and federal involvement in her case appears likely.
