Two New York City men were arrested Wednesday on charges of possessing a large amount of fentanyl and a stolen .45-caliber handgun after their car was stopped for speeding on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, state police said.
Carlos M. Garcia Evans, 42, and Secundino Mercedes Nunez, 29, both of the Bronx, were ordered held in the county prison after failing to post $100,000 bond each.
State police Trooper Jake Goga said he was patrolling a section of the turnpike in Mt. Pleasant Township when he saw a car driven by Mercedes Nunez traveling at 84 mph in a 70 mph zone late Wednesday afternoon.
Goga said the pair gave him consent to search the vehicle, where he said he found the stolen gun, more than 3.5 ounces of pure fentanyl and 28 .45-caliber bullets.
Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid painkiller that can be 50 to 100 times stronger than heroin. As little as two or three nanograms of fentanyl per milliliter of blood can be deadly.
The pair are charged with possession, delivery and manufacturing a controlled substance, illegal possession of a stolen firearm, possessing a firearm without a license and receiving stolen property. A preliminary hearing will be scheduled before Hempfield District Judge Anthony Bompiani.
