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I-70 traffic stop leads to Indiana fentanyl seizure

NEW CASTLE, Ind. (AP) - Authorities say they've seized more than 4 pounds of a powerful painkiller blamed for a spike in drug overdoses following a traffic stop on Interstate 70 in eastern Indiana.

The Pro-Active Criminal Enforcement multi-jurisdictional police task force says the stop Monday led to the discovery of 2 kilograms of fentanyl in a car driven by 41-year-old Gustavo Romero of Wildomar, California. He's being held in federal custody in Indianapolis. It wasn't clear whether he faces any criminal charges.

Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid 50 times more potent than heroin that's responsible for a recent surge in overdose deaths in some parts of the country.

It wasn't clear if Romero has an attorney who might comment on his behalf.

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