San Joaquin County District Attorney Ron Freitas announced the arraignment of Hector Nunez, 33, following a traffic stop.

On September 15, 2026, Nunez was arraigned in Department 8C of the San Joaquin County Superior Court by Judge Chrishna Martinez. He faces drug trafficking charges, including a weight enhancement for possessing an excess of 20 kilograms (over 50 pounds) of fentanyl. Judge Martinez set bail at $500,000. If convicted on all charges, the defendant faces up to 24 years in State Prison.

The charges follow a routine traffic stop at the Interstate 5 and Thornton Road exit in San Joaquin County. A search of Nunez's vehicle yielded 23 "bricks" of powdered fentanyl totaling over 50 pounds. Authorities note this is enough fentanyl powder to cause the lethal overdose of millions of people. Investigators determined that Nunez was traveling from Riverside County, California, to Seattle, Washington.

"Fentanyl poses a serious danger to public safety," said District Attorney Ron Freitas. "This seizure stops a significant amount of the drug from reaching its destination. My office remains committed to prosecuting those who attempt to transport illegal substances through San Joaquin County."

The San Joaquin County District Attorney’s Office extends its sincere gratitude to the Sacramento County Sheriff's Office Domestic Highway Enforcement (DHE) team, the Regional Enforcement of All Crimes Team (REACT), and K9 Officer Ronan for their vital assistance on this arrest.

Nunez remains in custody pending his next court appearance. His next court date is scheduled for September 30, 2026, at 8:30 a.m. in Department 8C.