Location: Highway 99 and Tulare Avenue

Incident Date: 6-25-22

Incident Time: 1930HRS

Posted by: Media Relations

Just before 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Tulare County HIDTA investigators were called to the area of Highway 99 and Tulare Ave. in Tulare to help CHP Officers with a traffic stop.

During their investigation, Detectives with the Tulare County High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Unit (HIDTA) found 150 packages, each of 1,000 Fentanyl pills. In total, 150,000 pills were found hidden inside the vehicle. Each pill sells for approximately $5, making the street value of the seizure $750,000.

Detectives arrested 25-year-old Jose Zendejas and 19-year-old Benito Madrigal, both of Washington. They face charges of possession, transportation and sales of illegal drugs. They were booked at the Tulare County Pre-Trial Facility.

Anyone with information is encouraged to contact Sergeant Neil Skrinde or Detective Jeff Dowling with TC HIDTA at (559) 733-6218. Or, they can remain anonymous by calling or texting (559)725-4194 or through email at tcso@tipnow.com.