LYNN, Mass. (WWLP) – More than 220 pounds of suspected drugs were recently seized by a gang task force in Massachusetts, in what the FBI says is believed to be among the biggest-ever drug busts in a single location in New England.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s office, 228 pounds of drugs consisted of more than 10 million doses, with a street value of $8 million the drugs were seized in Lynn last Wednesday. The FBI said that some of the drugs seized included fentanyl-laced pills shaped to resemble heart-shaped Valentine’s Day candy.

The search warrant stemmed from an investigation into an overdose death in Salem in July 2023. The suspect, 25-year-old Emilio Garcia of Lynn, was surveilled by officers for three months. Garcia and another suspect, 33-year-old Sebastien Bejin of Lynn, have been charged with the following:

• Conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and possess controlled substances with intent to distribute
• Possession of controlled substances with intent to distribute

Also arrested was 40-year-old Deiby Felix of Lynn, who has been charged with one count of possession of controlled substances with intent to distribute. All three suspects are expected by in court on November 13.

The following drugs were seized from four locations in Lynn, which included the basement of a two-family home occupied by multiple families and small children:

• More than 10 kilograms (22 pounds) of white powder and rock like substances which field tested positive for methamphetamine and cocaine base
• More than 17 kilograms (37 pounds) of suspected raw methamphetamine which equates to approximately more than 3.5 million individual doses
• Approximately 280,000 counterfeit Percocet pills, believed to contain fentanyl, weighing 28 kilograms (61 pounds) with a street value in the range of approximately, $1.4 million to over $7 million
• More than 27 kilograms (59 pounds) of counterfeit Adderall pills, believed to contain methamphetamine
• Approximately 1.8 kilograms (four pounds) of brown rock and powder-like substances, which tested positive for cocaine, fentanyl and methamphetamine. This quantity of fentanyl equates to about 900,000 individual doses
• Five firearms were also seized

Surveillance during the investigation found Garcia and Bejin would allegedly travel between stash locations on a daily basis and provide drugs to lower-level dealers.

“The only thing more depraved than trafficking deadly fentanyl is trafficking deadly fentanyl designed to look like candy to appeal to teenagers,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “The Justice Department is focused on attacking every link in the global fentanyl trafficking chain, and we will not stop until those responsible for the fentanyl poisoning epidemic are brought to justice. We also continue to urge families to have open and honest conversations about the urgent threat posed by this epidemic, and the fact that just one pill can kill.”

The bust was conducted by the North Shore Gang Task Force. It’s one of 160 violent gang task forces nationwide that combine federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies in an effort to combat violent crime.

“The doses of controlled substances seized in this case exceed the number of residents in Massachusetts,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Joshua S. Levy. “The fact that we now are seeing fentanyl-laced pills pressed to resemble candy only underscores the urgency of this fentanyl crisis.”