Authored by Cynthia Cai via The Epoch Times,
San Francisco police have arrested four suspects, recovered multiple firearms, and seized over 20,000 counterfeit pills - some containing cychlorphine, a new synthetic drug that is up to 10 times stronger than fentanyl.
The arrests resulted from a months-long investigation that started with the fatal overdose of a San Francisco teenager, according to San Francisco Police Department (SFPD) Chief Derrick Lew on Monday.
SFPD opened its investigation after officers responded on April 7 to a home on Bush Street, where a mother had found her teenage son deceased due to a suspected overdose.
Officers from the narcotics unit collected evidence, including what appeared to be pharmaceutical medication, to determine the source of the pills, SFPD said in a statement.
During testing, officers found that the pills were counterfeit, with some containing the synthetic drug cychlorphine.
The drug was first detected in the United States at a Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) laboratory in Florida in April 2024. Later that year, the Center for Forensic Science Research and Education confirmed identity of the drug through reference materials, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
Cychlorphine can be up to 10 times more potent than fentanyl and is currently undetectable by drug test strips or hospital opioid urine tests, according to an April 30 advisory from the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy.
As of March 2026, at least 24 states have reported overdoses or deaths related to cychlorphine. East Tennessee has reported a cluster of 19 confirmed deaths, with other cases spread among states including California, Illinois, Kentucky, Ohio, and Texas.
Due to the strength of cychlorphine, the DEA says reversing the effects of the synthetic drug "might require several doses of naloxone to be effective."
In San Francisco, investigations into the teen's death eventually led officers to the potential source of the pills. They carried out multiple controlled drug buys to identify the suspects before obtaining warrants.
On Sept. 8, officers served a search warrant on the 700 block of O'Farrell Street, where they seized a few oxycodone pills and cocaine and arrested 46-year-old Nicholas Wallace.
The next day, search warrants led officers to the 300 block of Executive Park Blvd. and the 1300 block of Newhall Ave. where they arrested 46-year-old Leander Pitts and 39-year-old Starr Lamare.
Officers seized over 20,000 pills, including suspected counterfeit Xanax, oxycodone, hydrocodone, cyclobenzaprine, and fentanyl, among other deadly narcotics.
Law enforcement also recovered a semi-automatic assault rifle, a semi-automatic pistol, $2,267 in cash, and 6.5 grams of black tar heroin - a sticky, rock-like form of heroin that primarily originates from South America.
All four suspects have been booked in San Francisco County Jail on various charges, which include possession for sale of narcotics and firearms, according to SFPD.
"Our investigators will stop at nothing to ensure deadly narcotics are taken off our streets and individuals who peddle them are arrested and held accountable," Police Chief Derrick Lew said. "This tragic case highlights the dangers these deadly drugs pose to our community."
Although arrests have been made, police say the investigation remains active and they will continue to follow leads to identify additional arrests. Members of the public are encouraged to contact SFPD with tips at 1-415-575-4444.