A 27-year-old Costa Mesa man was charged Friday with possession with the intent to sell drugs, including "China White," a new designer heroin laced with the fentanyl opioid.
Costa Mesa police said it was the first arrest for possession of the new designer drug.
"This is the first known arrest for possession of fentanyl-based heroin for sale within the city of Costa Mesa," Police Chief Rob Sharpnack said.
The chief said the drug is "extremely dangerous and is the most powerful synthetic opioid available."
According to Sharpnack, "it is so powerful that mere inhalation or contact with the skin can cause a drug overdose resulting in death."
Christopher Eugene Miller was charged with three counts of possession of a controlled substance with the intent to sell and possession for sale of a controlled substance, all felonies. He also faces sentencing enhancement allegations for committing a secondary offense while out on bail for another case.
When Miller was arrested Wednesday he was out on bail for another case alleging two counts of possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell on Aug. 1.
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Police served a search warrant at Miller's residence in the 400 block of Fair Drive Wednesday evening, according to Roxi Fyad of the Costa Mesa Police Department.
In the home, police found he possessed about three grams of the heroin and about $1,000 in cash, Fyad said.
Investigators also found two more ounces of the heroin, two ounces of methamphetamine, $8,000 in cash, Xanax pills, plastic baggies, a digital scale
and other drug paraphernalia in the home, Fyad said.
In December of 2015 and January of last year, Miller got drug possession and drug dealing convictions dating back to 2009 and 2010 dismissed, according to court records.
