‘That’s a lot of pills’: Florida traffic stop uncovers 31,000 illegal pills
By Ari Hait
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MARTIN COUNTY, Florida (WPBF) — A traffic stop on I-95 northbound in Martin County early Saturday afternoon resulted in the arrest of a man and the discovery of 31,000 benzodiazepine pills, crystal meth and mushroom gummies, according to the Martin County Sheriff’s Office.
The stop occurred just south of the Martin Highway exit.
“Our deputy noticed that they were weaving in and out of traffic and pace clocked him, and ended up pulling him over for, I think, 80 in a 70,” Martin County Sheriff John Budensiek said.
Deputies said the driver, identified as 36-year-old Zoltan Ganoczi from Hungary, did not have a driver’s license.
During a search of the vehicle, the deputy found crystal meth in the front and mushroom gummies in the back.
But the sheriff said that was just the beginning.
“The largest discovery was in the trunk of the vehicle, where he discovered 31,000 pills with different names, but basically all of them were benzodiazepine pills,” Budensiek said.
Benzodiazepines, commonly referred to as benzos, include drugs like Ambien and Valium, which are used as sedatives and muscle relaxers.
“If it’s taken appropriately, it can be a good thing. But in this case, if it’s taken off the street and mixed with other kinds of drugs, it can be deadly,” Budensiek said.
The pills were wrapped in legitimate post office packaging, but investigators doubt they were intended for mailing.
Ganoczi reportedly told investigators he picked up the pills in Miami and was delivering them to Volusia County.
The sheriff’s office is currently analyzing Ganoczi’s phone for more information.
“That may lead to who the exact source was, who the pills came from, and where he was taking them to. But we don’t know that at this point,” Budensiek said.
Budensiek also raised concerns about the potential rise of benzodiazepines as a new drug of choice in Florida.
“These drug dealers always step in that void, and it’s our job to constantly be there, heading it off and trying to make these arrests and sending the message we’re not going to tolerate it,” Budensiek said.
Ganoczi is currently facing a number of charges, including possession with intent to sell.
He’s being held without bond in the Martin County jail, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement is investigating his immigration status.
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