Thousands of fentanyl pills seized in I-5 traffic stop

MEDFORD, Ore. (AP) — A man is facing felony drug charges following a traffic stop near Ashland in which tens of thousands of pills resembling oxycodone were found, but actually were made from a deadly synthetic opiate.

The Mail Tribune reports 22-year-old Pavel Dubinstov of Damascus faces charges of manufacturing and delivering a Schedule II controlled substance.

Court documents say he transported the fentanyl pills from California into Oregon in a van with hidden compartments.

The Medford Area Drug and Gang Enforcement task force says on July 28, police stopped Dubinstov on Interstate 5. The task force says investigators found more than 60,000 pills that tested positive for fentanyl as well as bundles of cash.

Dubinstov was arrested and released from Jackson County Jail after posting bail earlier this month. He's set to appear in court in early September. It wasn't known if he has a lawyer.