FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) – The spotlight turned to Fresno during a nationwide press briefing on combating drug cartels after US Attorney General Pam Bondi announced a drug more dangerous than fentanyl was seized in Fresno.

“It’s been an incredible few weeks for the DEA nationwide. We’re here today to announce the historic success through Operation Takeback America,” she started. “Over the Fourth of July weekend, DEA agents executed successful operations throughout this country… This includes a seizure in Fresno, California… and this is something new that I hadn’t seen.”

The drug in question, 24 pounds of Carfentanil— an opioid nicknamed the elephant tranquilizer and estimated to be 100 times more potent than fentanyl.

Bondi said the Carfentanil seized was disguised as real oxycodone prescription pills. A disguise, she said, often used to target students.

“This is what was seized in Fresno, California— amounts that could kill so many of our high school and college kids,” she said, pointing to a graphic comparing the Carfentanil with real oxycodone pills. “They think that buying this on a street corner won’t hurt them, but it will and it can kill you. And that’s why they’re targeting places close to our universities.”

The operation also seized 71 kilos of fentanyl and 20 kilos of methamphetamine in Columbia near the University of South Carolina.