It’s been less than 24 hours since President Trump declared the opioid epidemic a national emergency. Looks like things are already moving in a positive direction.
From the Independent Journal Review:
On Thursday, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced Jacobo Leonel Orellana-Estrada’s guilty plea to possession and intent to distribute more than one kilogram of heroin. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers stopped Orellana-Estrada at Newark International Airport where they found in his luggage six, small, single-layer cakes containing heroin.
According to authorities, the dealer came from Guatemala City. By law, one kilogram of heroin faces incredibly harsh penalties. Orellana-Estrada could face up to life in prison.
On January 29, 2018, the smuggler will be sentenced.
From a statement by the U.S. Attorney’s office:
A Guatemalan citizen today admitted transporting three kilograms of heroin that had been coated in chocolate in a failed attempt to bring the drugs undetected through Newark Liberty International Airport, Acting U.S. Attorney William E. Fitzpatrick announced.
Jacobo Leonel Orellana-Estrada, 21, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Michael A. Shipp in Trenton federal court to an information charging him with one count of possession with intent to distribute more than one kilogram of heroin.
According to the documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
On June 11, 2017, Orellana-Estrada arrived at Newark Liberty International Airport as a passenger aboard a commercial airline flight from Guatemala City, Guatemala. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers stopped Orellana-Estrada at customs inspection and searched his luggage. In one of his bags, they discovered what appeared to be six small single-layer cakes that were actually packages of heroin coated in a thin layer of chocolate and wrapped in paper.
Yesterday, the president made his announcement to fight opioid addiction. He declared it a “public health emergency”.
Melania helped her husband and delivered the opening remarks. She said the stigma of drug addiction must be normalized. According to FLOTUS, the terrifying aspect of opioid addiction is that it can happen to anyone.
While no concrete plans have been laid out yet, the White House is working diligently to bring forth a deal.
