April 24, 2025, Press Release from the Office of Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost:
COLUMBUS, Ohio — A recent drug trafficking case in Pickerington highlights the ongoing efforts of law enforcement to curb the availability of illicit opioids in the state and the importance of advanced chemical to identify emerging drug trends, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost announced today.
“Drug traffickers disguise deadly drugs as prescription pills to smuggle them into our communities,” Yost said. “The bottom line is this: If you’re taking a pill that wasn’t prescribed by your doctor, you risk an overdose or death.”
Jorge Santillan, 41, of Indianapolis, was indicted on March 5 in Fairfield County Common Pleas Court on charges of aggravated drug trafficking, a first-degree felony, aggravated drug possession, a fifth-degree felony, and illegal use or possession of drug paraphernalia, a fourth-degree misdemeanor. Additional charges are expected as the investigation by the Pickerington Police Department remains ongoing.
The investigation determined that Santillan possessed bags of pills marked as oxycodone and multiple bags containing a powdery substance. The evidence was submitted to the AG’s Bureau of Criminal Investigation’s laboratory for analysis.
The pills -- 3,723 in total, all marked to mimic pharmaceutical pill – were determined to be carfentanil, a lethal synthetic opioid about 100 times more potent than fentanyl and 10,000 times more potent than morphine. Carfentanil, an analog of fentanyl, is not approved for use in humans but is used by veterinarians to anesthetize large animals such as elephants and rhinoceroses.
The powder that BCI tested contained more than 200 grams of fentanyl and para-fluorofentanyl (PFF), another powerful fentanyl analog. PFF is commonly combined with other narcotics, including fentanyl, heroin and cocaine. 55 grams of powder contained fentanyl, PFF and xylazine.
“Kudos to Pickerington Police Chief Tod Cheney and his detectives for getting these pills off the street before they could wreak havoc,” Yost added. “Fairfield County Prosecuting Attorney Kyle Witt has already brought charges against this alleged trafficker, and we look forward to supporting his prosecution.”
