Connecticut dealers indicted in major counterfeit pill operation

In a significant law enforcement operation, a New Haven man named Kelldon Hinton, 45, was indicted for allegedly manufacturing and distributing counterfeit pills from a garage in East Haven, Connecticut. The operation, which ran from February 2023 to February 2024, involved the production of hundreds of thousands of pills containing methamphetamine and other dangerous substances. Hinton reportedly shipped over 1,300 packages through the U.S. mail, targeting customers who purchased the pills on the dark web. Hinton's operation utilized pill presses and drugs sourced from international sellers, including those in China. The authorities seized several hundred thousand counterfeit pills, two pill presses capable of producing 100,000 pills per hour, and other manufacturing equipment. The pills were also found to contain dimethylpentylone, a designer drug often mislabeled as ecstasy, and xylazine, a tranquilizer known as "tranq." The investigation, which began after a tip-off in June 2023, involved multiple law enforcement agencies, including the DEA and FBI. Surveillance revealed Hinton's activities, including dropping off parcels at a post office. Alongside Hinton, six other individuals from Connecticut were indicted, highlighting the extensive network involved in this drug trafficking operation. This case underscores the ongoing challenges faced by law enforcement in combating the rise of synthetic opioids and counterfeit drugs in the U.S. The Connecticut U.S. Attorney's Office emphasized the need for aggressive action against those profiting from the distribution of these dangerous substances, which have contributed to a significant number of overdose deaths across the country.