Four cadets from the US Military Academy at West Point were among six spring breakers who overdosed on fentanyl-laced cocaine in Wilton Manors, Florida.
The students were found at a vacation home that neighbors said is often rented out.
The New York Times reported that bystanders performed mouth-to-mouth resuscitation on the unconscious students before emergency medical workers administered anti-overdose medication.
All six were taken to a nearby hospital. Doctors said two students are in critical condition. One remains stable, while the other three were released during the weekend.
Police Findings
According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, fentanyl is a synthetic opioid 100 times more powerful than morphine. It slows down breathing, leading to respiratory arrest and death in overdose cases.
Wilton Manors police, in conjunction with the Broward County Sheriff’s Office, arrested 21-year-old Florida drug dealer Axel Giovany Casseus on charges of cocaine trafficking and burglary. He is being held on a $50,000 bond.
Casseus was arrested in an undercover operation when a detective purchased $1,000 of cocaine from him a day after he allegedly sold it to the victims.
He has admitted to the transaction in Wilton Manors that led to the overdose. Authorities have also traced the phone he used to communicate with the students.
“This incident serves as a stark reminder to all, especially those visiting for Spring Break, of the deadly impacts of Fentanyl,” the Wilton Manors police said.