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Branford Police Seize $2 Million-Worth of Opioids During Traffic Stop

Branford police have arrested a Ohio man after finding $2 million-worth of opiods, including fentanyl and the narcotic pain reliever tramadol, during a traffic stop, according to police.

Carlos Alberto Hernandez-Salazar, 27, of Canton, Ohio, was charged with possession of narcotics with intent to sell, criminal attempt for possession of narcotics and risk of injury to a minor.

Branford police said that around 5:15 p.m. Wednesday an officer stopped a vehicle because it had heavily tinted windows. During the traffic stop the officer thought that the driver and Hernandez-Salazar were acting unusually nervous and suspicious. There were two children in the car at the time.

Hernandez-Salazar allowed officers to search the trunk, where they found eight packages of suspected narcotics inside a duffel bag. Laboratory analysis later confirmed the narcotics were a mixture of fentanyl and tramadol. The estimated street value was $2 million.

Hernandez-Salazar was held on a $250,000 bond and was arraigned Thursday.

Branford Police Chief Kevin Halloran was pleased with the officers’ work.

“Our community, along with many others throughout our nation has been plagued with this extremely dangerous drug. Its use has resulted in the loss of life of many of our citizens. I’m hopeful that this good work by our officers has prevented the possibility of another opioid related death,” he wrote in a media release.

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