Sebastien Rollin, a Canadian national from Quebec, has been charged by federal indictment with conspiracy to import protonitazene, distribution of protonitazene for importation into the United States, and international promotional money laundering, according to a Mar. 17 announcement by United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe. If convicted on all counts, Rollin faces up to 120 years in federal prison. The indictment also seeks an order of forfeiture against him.
The charges stem from allegations that Rollin arranged the sale of synthetic opioid pills disguised as oxycodone for delivery to Tampa. According to the indictment, he sold more than 10,000 such pills on May 13, 2024, and later sold an additional 25,000 pills on July 9, 2024—both times to an undercover officer. Payment for these transactions was reportedly made via cryptocurrency sent from Florida to Canada.
In mid-July 2024, authorities say Rollin negotiated the sale of another 300,000 synthetic opioid pills intended for the United States. However, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police intercepted a courier's vehicle and seized the pills before they could be delivered. On the same day, police executed search warrants at two clandestine laboratories in Quebec used for manufacturing synthetic opioids. These searches resulted in the seizure of millions of synthetic opioid pills, drug recipes, and a firearm.
Rollin was apprehended with assistance from Spanish National Police and extradited from Spain on Feb. 20 after coordination between U.S., Canadian, and Spanish authorities. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dan Baeza.
This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force initiative established by Executive Order 14159: Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The task force brings together multiple law enforcement agencies to target criminal cartels and transnational organizations operating within and outside U.S. borders.
An indictment is only a formal charge; every defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
