Dozens of medical professionals arrested in opioid crackdown in Texas

HOUSTON, Texas -- Federal authorities have arrested a number of people, including medical providers and pharmacists who are accused of illegally distributing opioids.

On Wednesday, the Drug Enforcement Agency targeted 37 medical offices, pharmacies and clinics in the Houston, Texas area.

"This operates in broad daylight, and when you know what it is, you can see it," U.S. Attorney Ryan Patrick said.

The network is suspected of distributing 23 million opioid pills illegally, and one doctor is accused of prescribing more than two million pills in just 15 months.

The Department of Justice says the network is a "new phenomenon."

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Agents say addicted patients usually buy pills from doctors, but in this case, runners were recruited to pose as patients and go to clinics to hoard millions of pills for distribution. The network was uncovered due to one case.

"Operation Hip Hop targeted Ricky Moten, a rapper, studio owner and long-time leader of a heroin and cocaine trafficking organization," DEA special agent Jeffery Scott said. "We later learned his ties to Houston-based network pharmacies, clinics, doctors and other individuals."

Scott said that the clinics and pharmacies were already under the microscope because the number of opioids they delivered raised red flags, but the Moten case tied everything together.

Now, law enforcement has a message for any other medical personnel thinking about making extra cash illegally.

"If you behave like a drug dealer, we're going to find you and treat you like a drug dealer," assistant attorney general Brian Benczkowski said.

Federal authorities have also announced a new health care fraud task force expanding to the Rio Grande Valley to help stop the opioid networks.