By: Richard L. Smith
A Philadelphia man has been sentenced to five years in federal prison for his role in a drug trafficking operation that funneled large quantities of fentanyl into northern New Jersey, according to a statement released by the U.S. Department of Justice.
The scheme involved a clandestine drug mill in the Philadelphia area, where fentanyl was processed and prepared for distribution. 
Emmanuel F. Almonte Mejia, 40, admitted to his role in the conspiracy and previously pleaded guilty to a charge of distributing and possessing fentanyl with intent to distribute.
U.S. District Judge Katharine S. Hayden handed down the 60-month prison sentence, followed by three years of supervised release.
According to court records and testimony, Mejia and his associates ran a fentanyl production operation out of a private residence, commonly referred to as a drug mill.
Authorities uncovered nearly six kilograms of fentanyl inside the facility in February 2022, a quantity large enough to supply thousands of lethal doses.
Mejia was not the only one facing consequences. Two of his co-conspirators, Hector Luiz De La Cruz Nunez, 32, and Loanny F. Duran Hiciano, 37, also admitted to their involvement in the operation.
Nunez has been sentenced to five years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, while Hiciano is awaiting sentencing.
Federal authorities continue to crack down on fentanyl distribution networks, emphasizing the deadly impact of the synthetic opioid, which has been responsible for a surge in overdose deaths nationwide.
Law enforcement officials warn that operations like Mejia’s contribute significantly to the opioid crisis, endangering communities across New Jersey and beyond.