Fentanyl pill press uncovered

ANGELINA COUNTY – Two people were arrested after a months-long investigation uncovered a drug manufacturing operation in Houston County. According to our news partner and the Angelina County Sheriff’s Office, officials learned information that pointed to Darryl Dewayne Mask, 24 of Lufkin, selling fentanyl pills. The sheriff’s office then did a controlled purchase of fentanyl from Mask, who had directed them to meet him at the Lufkin Middle School parking lot while school was in session.

A warrant for his arrest was executed at his apartment on Daniel McCall Drive near Lufkin. Deputies approached Mask while he was in his vehicle and placed him under arrest. According to the sheriff’s office, a Taurus .40 caliber pistol, K-2 and cocaine were recovered from Mask’s vehicle. The sheriff’s office stated that evidence found during the investigation indicated a fentanyl pill manufacturing operation was located in Houston County. This operation was on property owned by Adriyel Demille Mask, situated between Ratcliff and Kennard off County Road 4700.

A search warrant was secured for Mask’s property and the Houston County Sheriff’s office was notified. Houston County deputies began watching the residence on Mask’s property.

Before Angelina County deputies could arrive with the search warrant from Lufkin, Adriyel Mask left the property in a Dodge Charger, where he was then stopped by Houston County deputies on Highway 7.

Adriyel Mask was arrested and the Dodge Charger was searched. The sheriff’s office said a large amount of methamphetamines and a Smith & Wesson .44 Magnum revolver were found in the vehicle.

Angelina County and Houston County deputies then searched the property and found the following items:

An operational commercial grade pill press
Boxes of precursor
Raw materials
Fentanyl Pill dye sets
Scales
Contaminated plastic ware for mixing
A pill tumbler
Finished Fentanyl pills
Marijuana
MDMA
Methamphetamine
Crack cocaine
Liquid PCP
A stolen 9mm Sig Sauer pistol from Houston.

“It appears that a large amount of Fentanyl being illegally sold in the Angelina/Houston County area was coming from Mask’s manufacturing operation with Mask recklessly subjecting residents of the whole area to exposure to this dangerous substance through his intermediaries,” Angelina County Sheriff Tom Selman said.

A Hazardous Materials Disposal Unit was dispatched to the site to secure the evidence for collection.

Darryl is currently being held in the Angelina County Jail on a total bond of $57,500 for two counts of manufacture/delivery of a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance and unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon.

Adriyel was charged with five counts of possesion of a controlled substance, two counts of manufacture/delivery of a controlled substance, possession of marijuana and theft of a firearm. He’s currently being held at the Angelina County Jail on a total bond of $525,000.