A recent federal grand jury indictment has revealed a disturbing operation in Connecticut, where a New Haven man allegedly manufactured hundreds of thousands of counterfeit pills containing methamphetamine, a potent opioid, and other illicit substances. The accused individual, along with six others, faces criminal charges in what authorities are calling one of the largest counterfeit pill busts in New England.
The alleged mastermind behind the operation, Kelldon Hinton, 45, is said to have run the illicit operation from a rented garage in East Haven, just a few miles from downtown New Haven. Using drugs and pill presses obtained from international sellers, Hinton reportedly shipped over 1,300 packages through the U.S. mail to customers who purchased the pills on the dark web between February 2023 and February 2024. Additionally, he distributed pills to local associates in Connecticut for street-level sales.
The counterfeit pills sold by Hinton contained a dangerous mix of substances, including methamphetamine, protonitazene (a synthetic opioid more potent than fentanyl), dimethylpentylone (often mislabeled as ecstasy), and xylazine (a tranquilizer known as “tranq”).
Law enforcement officials executed search warrants on September 5, resulting in the arrest of Hinton and four others. During the raids, authorities seized several hundred thousand pills, two pill presses capable of producing 100,000 pills per hour, and other manufacturing equipment.
The investigation, involving federal, state, and local agencies, highlighted the ongoing battle against synthetic opioids in the United States. The prevalence of fake prescription pills containing potent opioids like fentanyl has contributed to a significant number of overdose deaths nationwide. DEA officials emphasized their commitment to pursuing individuals and organizations involved in distributing these dangerous substances.
Authorities were alerted to Hinton's activities in June 2023 by a confidential source, leading to a thorough surveillance operation that ultimately exposed the extent of the illegal pill manufacturing operation. Hinton's criminal history, dating back to 1997 and including convictions for assault, larceny, and drug sales, further underscored the seriousness of the case.
The overdose epidemic in the U.S. remains a pressing concern, with over 107,500 overdose deaths reported last year. While this figure represents a slight decrease from the previous year, the toll of the epidemic has surpassed 1 million lives lost since 1999.
