Large stash of fentanyl discovered during traffic stop

Jackson County authorities say a traffic stop yesterday led to the recovery of dangerous amounts of fentanyl.

A deputy noticed a pickup drive through a stop sign at about 1:42 a.m. yesterday morning in Vernon Township near the intersection of U.S. 31 and State Road 250. After stopping the vehicle, a police dog alerted to the smell of narcotics in the vehicle and a search revealed about 30 grams of fentanyl along with methamphetamine.

According to authorities, 2 milligrams of fentanyl is enough to kill a person, so the amount recovered in the pickup could kill 15 thousand people.

The driver, 31-year-old Erica M. Bannister of Scottsburg was arrested on preliminary charges of dealing narcotics and possession of methamphetamine.