San Francisco police announced Friday the arrest of four individuals suspected of distributing a powerful synthetic drug linked to the fatal overdose of a 16-year-old.
Police Chief Derrick Lew stated Monday that the arrests were made in connection with the death of Dante Lacourte, who died in April after consuming cychlorphine, a potent synthetic opioid recently detected in the city's illicit drug market. According to authorities, cychlorphine was present in a counterfeit pill that Lacourte ingested.
Christina Lacourte, Dante's mother, discovered him deceased in his room after going to wake him for school. "It just takes one pill," she told The New York Times.
Investigators identified the deadly pills and subsequently searched Lacourte's phone, leading them to the suspected dealers. Undercover officers then purchased pills containing the substance to build their case. Last week, police raided three homes in San Francisco, seizing over 20,000 suspected counterfeit pills.
During the raids, officers also recovered 68.5 grams of MDMA, 6.5 grams of black tar heroin, an assault rifle, a semi-automatic pistol, and $2,267 in cash.
Nicholas Wallace, 46, was arrested Sept. 8 at his home, where police found 34 pills believed to be oxycodone and a quantity of cocaine. Sharonee Hyson, 44, was also apprehended at the scene with 11.7 grams of cocaine base and a loaded firearm.
The following day, authorities raided the homes of Leander Pitts, 46, and Starr Lamare, 39, discovering more than 20,000 counterfeit pills, including those pressed to resemble Xanax, oxycodone, hydrocodone, and cyclobenzaprine, along with fentanyl.
All four suspects were booked into San Francisco County Jail on charges including possession for sale of narcotics and firearms offenses.
Cycnlorphine, which is reportedly significantly more potent than fentanyl, was first identified by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration in 2024, according to Bob Beris, special agent in charge of the DEA's San Francisco Field Division. Beris warned that the drug can be mixed with various street substances, making detection and avoidance challenging.
Public health experts note that standard drug-checking tools may not detect cychlorphine, and overdose reversal drugs like Narcan may require multiple doses to be effective. The pill Lacourte ingested also contained isotonitazene (ISO), another synthetic opioid reported to be up to 100 times stronger than fentanyl.
San Francisco health officials issued an alert in the month of Lacourte's death, warning about the dangers of novel synthetic opioids. A video circulating online depicted individuals appearing heavily impaired by ISO in the city's Tenderloin district.