ELIZABETH CITY, N.C. (AP) — Authorities in northeastern North Carolina say that two men have been charged with possessing enough fentanyl to kill more than 20,000 people.

The men from Elizabeth City were arrested last week.

The Pasquotank County Sheriff’s Office said in a press release that Ronald Dashiell Jr. and Brandon Dashiell face charges of possession and trafficking illegal drugs. It’s unclear if they’ve hired attorneys.

Pasquotank County Sheriff Tommy S. Wooten II said the FBI is helping with the investigation and that the case will go to the U.S. Attorney.

Police said they found 55 grams of fentanyl in a motel room and $6,000 in cash.

Fentanyl is a synthetic painkiller that is 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine. Two milligrams can kill someone. Dealers often mix fentanyl with heroin and cocaine to augment the drugs’ effects.

Local authorities say that overdoses have been on the rise in the region.