Two arrested in Forsyth County after 78 pounds of cocaine and fentanyl seized

Two people are arrested today in Forsyth County after deputies and task force agents say they found 78 pounds of cocaine and fentanyl during a traffic stop following surveillance at a business on Trotters Way. The Lanier Regional Drug Task Force received a tip about possible drug trafficking, observed a van at the location, and followed the vehicle after agents saw two men load a large box into the van.

A canine unit conducted a traffic stop after the vehicle reportedly ran a stop sign. The ensuing search of the van uncovered the controlled substances, leading to the arrests and felony trafficking charges. The seizure represents a substantial interdiction given the quantity of drugs involved and comes amid statewide and national concerns over fentanyl related overdoses.

Forsyth County authorities identified the suspects as Rodolfo Ortuno, 33, and William Pineda Torres, 28. Ortuno is charged with Trafficking Cocaine, Trafficking Fentanyl, Failure to Obey Traffic Control Device Stop Sign, and driving without a license. He is also being held on an Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainer. Pineda Torres faces charges of Trafficking Cocaine, Trafficking Fentanyl, Possession of Cocaine, and Possession of Fentanyl. Both men are in county custody pending prosecution.

The seizure has immediate local implications for public safety and law enforcement strategy. Large quantities of fentanyl pose a direct overdose risk when they enter local drug markets, and interdictions of this scale can reduce supply in the short term while also prompting shifts in trafficking tactics. The case demonstrates how community tips and coordinated operations between local sheriffs offices and regional task forces can disrupt trafficking networks. It also highlights intersections between criminal enforcement and federal immigration holds when detainers are applied.

For residents the incident reinforces the importance of reporting suspicious activity to authorities and the continuing challenge communities face in balancing enforcement, public health interventions, and prevention efforts. Prosecutors will determine formal charges and pursue the case through the county court system, while law enforcement officials continue investigations to identify broader distribution links tied to the seizure.