News12 New York
N12 Originals
Numbers & Links
Local
Crime
Weather
Taxing Long Island
Vote 2026: Long Island elections
Sunny
69°
Local
Crime
Weather
Taxing Long Island
Vote 2026: Long Island elections

DEA says extremely dangerous drugs found in Westbury home are a 'first' for Long Island

Frank A. Tarentino III, DEA special agent in charge, said nitazines are sometimes "up to 100 times more powerful than fentanyl."

Cecilia Dowd

•

Sep 9, 2025, 6:12 PM

•

Updated

Share:

More Stories

Authorities said they discovered dozens of illegal and dangerous pills at a Cantiague Lane home in Westbury, near the Hicksville border last month.

Frank A. Tarentino III, DEA special agent in charge, said nitazines are sometimes "up to 100 times more powerful than fentanyl."

He said a type of the synthetic opioid was recently found in the bust at the Westbury home.

It's the first time this type of nitazine, pressed into a pill, was found on Long Island.


The pills appeared to look like a legitimate prescription medication, like oxycodone, Tarentino said.

Consequently, most people don't know what they're ingesting.

"This is what's killing people. This is what is more powerful than fentanyl that can cause these overdose deaths and poisonings that we are seeing play out across the United States," said Tarentino.

Top Stories

02:19
Suffolk nearly blue Thumbnail

Long Island's Republican Congressmen hold narrow leads with results closer than expected

Vote 2026

VOTE 2026: Long Island Election Results

02:02
today

Sunny, warm weather today; clouds and rain on the way for Long Island

01:49
ALLNYGovHochulDeclaresVictory2026

LIVE BLOG: Gov. Hochul wins reelection

00:49
LILIBRARYMEETING1104_2026-11-04-05-50-13

Suffolk police hear safety concerns from Mastic Beach residents at community meeting

motorcycle crash

Motorcyclist seriously injured in Mastic crash

00:21
LICOPIAGUEMOTORCYCLE1104_2026-11-04-05-47-13

20-year-old motorcyclist seriously hurt in Copiague crash

00:18
114dolphineuthanized_2026-11-04-07-04-07

Dolphin found stranded in Babylon euthanized due to poor health

00:28
114healthinsurancescams_subclip_2026-11-04-06-40-00_06-18-41,02

FTC warns of scams, misleading health insurance ads amid open enrollment

00:27
market

Babylon Village Farmers Market moving indoors for colder months

00:27
114invoicescam_2026-11-04-05-47-01

Village of Rockville Centre warns of fake Board of Zoning Appeals invoices

01:16
114whatscooking_2026-11-04-05-29-54

What’s Cooking: Apple cornbread stuffing

01:28
61d602de-64ba-47f8-b7a9-c4dcba589f0e

Don't let your tropical patio plants die this winter. This business can board your plants in their greenhouse!

01:15
LI 5PM TUES_Helping Hand_ajc_2026-11-03-17-23-19

PAL Jr. Islanders donate coats to children in need at Mercy Hospital

IMG 8953

Landscaper dies after tree trimmer touches power line in Hauppauge

00:48
LIHISTORYHEROES11326_2026-11-03-12-47-29

Kennedy High School students celebrate America's 250th anniversary and school's 60th anniversary with academic field day

00:56
LIRESTAURANTWEEK11326_2026-11-03-12-47-02

Restaurant Week: Jade Eatery, Sparrow Kitchen and Cocktails, Red Salt Room

01:24
unemployment

Taxing Long Island: The upgrade and drawback for the new online system for unemployment insurance

00:26
LIHEAPAPPS11326_2026-11-03-12-47-48

Applications now open to New Yorkers to save money on heating bills

00:26
Police LIghts

Man arrested following assault against hospital employees at Mount Sinai South Nassau Hospital

App StoreGoogle Play Store

info

Newsletter

Send Photos/Videos

Contact

About Us

News Team

News 12 New York

follow us

Twitter

Facebook

Instagram

more resources

Optimum Corporate

Optimum Service

Advertise on News 12

Careers

Content Removal Policy

© 2026 N12N, LLC

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

Ad Choices