FORT WAYNE, Ind.–They had enough fentanyl to kill over 400,000 people. That’s what federal investigators are saying about two men from Fort Wayne they arrested earlier this week.

 

DEA agents in Chicago say they saw 44- year -old Steven Hecke, at a rental storage unit loading a five-gallon bucket into a truck Monday with a license plate registered to Hecke’s address on Spring St.  Not long after that, they obtained search warrants for that address and a nearby apartment they suspected of being a location they used to stash drugs.

Later, police say Becke and 34 -year old Samuel Battell, were seen grabbing three five-gallon buckets from a white truck and taking them to the Spring St. location. That’s where officers say they confronted them.

Becke and Hattell tried to run away, but they were caught, investigators say. Law enforcement officers say they found the 900 grams of fentanyl along with about 19 pounds of meth, cash, and several guns.

“We are focused on working with our local, state and federal agencies to curb drug and gun crimes in the Northern District of Indiana. This case is an excellent example of agencies working together to accomplish those goals,” U.S. Attorney Thomas L. Kirsch said.

DEA Assistant Special Agent in Charge Michael Gannon commended the work of his agency and their law enforcement partners.

“If the alleged amount of fentanyl recovered would have hit the streets, it could have been devastating given that only 2mg could kill the average person. DEA will continue to use all resources available to target criminal organizations that introduce drugs into our communities,” Gannon said.

 

file cover photo courtesy DEA