GLENDON, Pa. — A routine traffic stop in Northampton County led to a major drug bust after Pennsylvania State Police discovered approximately 20,000 fentanyl pills hidden inside a vehicle along Interstate 78 earlier this week.
According to investigators, troopers stopped the vehicle in the borough of Glendon and obtained consent to search it. During the search, troopers found a large Ziploc bag containing two vacuum-sealed packages filled with small blue pills stamped with the letter “M.” Laboratory testing confirmed the pills contained fentanyl, a synthetic opioid responsible for thousands of overdose deaths nationwide.
The driver, identified as Maykol Jeffrie Goris Hiciano, 28, of New York, and his passenger, Jorge Joel Gomez Guzmen, 31, of Maryland, were both arrested at the scene.
Both suspects were charged with possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance, and related felony offenses. They were arraigned before District Judge Robert C. Weber and remanded to Northampton County Prison on $250,000 bail each.
Northampton County District Attorney Stephen G. Baratta described the seizure as one of the largest fentanyl-related arrests in the county this year.
“This operation took a deadly amount of fentanyl off our streets,” Baratta said. “It’s a significant disruption to a supply chain that fuels addiction and overdose deaths across the region.”
Authorities estimate the 20,000 pills had a potential street value of more than $300,000. The investigation remains ongoing as police work to identify the source and distribution network behind the seized drugs.
Officials are urging residents to report any information about suspected narcotics activity to Pennsylvania State Police Troop M or the Northampton County District Attorney’s Office.
