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In a startling revelation, Colorado authorities have uncovered 1.7 million fake fentanyl tablets stored within a unit sold at auction, marking the largest drug seizure of this nature in the state’s history.
The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office reported that this unprecedented discovery occurred on November 11 in Highlands Ranch, a suburb of Denver. The individual who won the auction stumbled upon what seemed to be illegal drugs and promptly contacted law enforcement.
David Olesky, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA’s Rocky Mountain Field Division, commented on the situation, likening it to a TV drama. He explained how the unsuspecting bidder legally acquired a storage unit only to find it filled with 1.7 million counterfeit fentanyl pills and an additional 12 kilograms of fentanyl powder. Olesky emphasized the significant impact of this seizure, stating it undoubtedly saved numerous lives by preventing these hazardous substances from reaching Colorado’s streets.
The DEA highlighted that this incident represents the largest single haul of counterfeit pills ever recorded in Colorado and stands as the sixth-largest seizure of suspected fentanyl pills in U.S. history.
Body camera footage released by the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office showcases deputies uncovering the substantial drug cache on November 11, 2025, in Highlands Ranch, Colorado.
Body camera footage released by the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office showed deputies lifting the lid of a storage container to reveal the drugs.
“That is an absolute metric s— ton of fentanyl,” one of the deputies said. “I got a very unique situation here.”
Following testing, the sheriff’s office confirmed that deputies found 198 kilograms of counterfeit fentanyl pills, 12 kilograms of fentanyl powder and 2.5 pounds of methamphetamine.
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) said, “This is the largest one-time seizure of counterfeit pills in Colorado history, and the sixth-largest, single seizure of suspected fentanyl pills in United States history.” (Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA))
“I want to thank the citizen who reported this discovery, the storage facility staff for their cooperation, and the deputies who responded quickly and professionally,” Douglas County Sheriff Darren Weekly said. “Let me send a strong and unmistakable message: fentanyl and illegal narcotics will not be tolerated in Douglas County. Our deputies, detectives, and crime lab professionals are committed to keeping this community safe, and we will remain relentless in that mission.”
The sheriff’s office, which called the find a “shocking discovery,” also said, “The original owner of the storage unit had been taken into custody by the DEA in April, which resulted in the unit going unpaid and eventually being auctioned off.”
A DEA official said following the discovery that, “There is no doubt many lives have been saved by keeping these poison pills off the streets of Colorado.” (Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA))
“I want to thank everyone who helped us with the largest successful fentanyl seizure in Colorado history,” Colorado Gov. Jared Polis said in a statement. “Getting more of this deadly drug off the streets saves lives. In Colorado, we are cracking down on crime, apprehending dangerous criminals, and keeping our communities safe. I thank the Colorado Bureau of Investigation and our federal partners for working with us to get criminals off of Colorado streets, out of our communities, and ensure Coloradans and families are safe.”