Federal authorities have indicted an Evans man in connection with a deadly drug deal involving fentanyl.
Last March, John Haak, 33 was arrested along with another man. Federal authorities believe the two men provided heroin to a man who died on February 28th.
Haak has been charged with distributing fentanyl. He faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
Fentanyl is an opioid analgesic that looks identical to heroin, but is cheaper and much more potent.
This drug is making its way to western New York. Traffickers and dealers are selling a mixture of fentanyl and heroin or just straight fentanyl to users.
The Erie County Medical Examiner's Office has seen drug deaths involving fentanyl skyrocket in recent months. Some overdose victims of this dangerous cocktail, die within seconds of taking the drug.
Experts say Fentanyl is 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine.
Police departments across western New York have been cracking down on both heroin and fentanyl.
U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul Jr. says that in recent years, more and more police officers have been carrying Narcan, an antidote used to revive overdose patients.
However, heroin and the street version of become so potent, that Narcan does not always work anymore.
Anyone with information or concerns about heroin use or distribution should contact police and/or counselors.
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