Federal prosecutors have charged a Santa Clarita man, Benjamin Anthony Collins, aged 21, in connection with the death of a 22-year-old Stevenson Ranch resident, marking what is believed to be the first fatal overdose in the country involving protonitazene—a synthetic opioid reportedly three times stronger than fentanyl.
According to the U.S. attorney’s office, the victim purchased pills from Collins that contained the potent substance. Shortly after ingestion, he was found deceased by his mother in the front seat of his car parked outside her home.
This case highlights a growing concern over the proliferation of dangerous counterfeit pills, which the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) warns are increasingly being manufactured by Mexican drug cartels. These pills often mimic the appearance of less potent drugs, misleading users about their true and dangerous contents.
Collins is currently being held without bond as investigations continue into the circumstances surrounding the distribution of these lethal drugs and their broader impact on public health.
