Terry DeMio

tdemio@enquirer.com

U.S. border protection agents seized scores of shipments of drugs, including a deadly fentanyl derivative, at the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport this month.

Cincinnati Customs and Border Protection agents said Wednesday that they seized 83 shipments of synthetic drugs. That includes more than 36 pounds of the highly potent opioid furanyl fentanyl, which the Hamilton County Coroner's Office has discovered in the Cincinnati region. The drugs were seized at a DHL express consignment facility at the airport. The investigation is ongoing.

"Typically, a lot of designer and synthetic drugs are being shipped through these types of facilities," said Ralph Piccirilli, public affairs liaison for the Chicago field office of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency.

The drugs were sent from China and were destined for individuals in 17 states, including Ohio, and also Canada, a customs and border protection release states.

The packages were disguised as "hardware nuts," "snap hooks, "plastic sheet sample" and other items.

"We have technicians and equipment that allows to detect and uncover this stuff," Piccirilli said.

The Cincinnati Customs and Border Protection agents had seized the drugs for nearly a month, from March 6 through Sunday.

Drugs seized included:

• More than 36 pounds of furanyl fentanyl, the deadly opioid that many heroin addicts are unwittingly using on the streets in Southwest Ohio and Northern Kentucky.

• 233 pounds of the so-called "date-rape drug" GBL. It's gamma-Butyrolactone, a precursor to gamma-Hydroxybutyric acid, or GHB.

• Alpha PVP, commonly known as bath salts, which can induce hallucinations, paranoia, seizures, violent behavior and death.

• PVP, commonly called "flakka" or "gravel."

• N-ethylpentylone, a dangerous stimulant.

Sharon Bishop, a Cincinnati Customs and Border Protection spokeswoman, said the express facilities are common drop points for such drugs that are shipped to the United States.

"DHL works very hard with us so that we can pull these dangerous drugs off the street," Bishop said.

The investigation was an effort to prevent synthetic narcotics from landing in popular spring break locations, said Cincinnati Acting Port Director Steven Thompson.