LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The Drug Enforcement Administration’s Louisville Field Division reported seizing an unusually large amount of fentanyl-laced counterfeit pills and fentanyl powder since Jan. 1 across Kentucky, Tennessee, and West Virginia.
According to the DEA, agents have confiscated 170,617 fentanyl-laced pills and 177.76 kilograms of fentanyl powder during that time. The powder alone equals roughly 392 pounds. The agency noted that as little as two milligrams of fentanyl can be deadly, depending on a person’s body size.
The DEA estimates the seizures represent nearly 89 million potentially lethal doses of fentanyl.
“I’m very proud of our efforts, but as long as fentanyl remains the leading cause of death for Americans ages 18 to 45, we still have a lot of work to do,” said Jim Scott, special agent in charge of the DEA’s Louisville Field Division. “While the number of fentanyl-related deaths is trending downward, fentanyl is still the greatest drug threat facing America right now, and no community has been spared from its devastating effects. We’ve all been touched by this in one way or another.”
The agency said most fentanyl trafficked into the United States comes from two Mexican drug cartels — the Sinaloa and Jalisco cartels. According to the DEA, the drugs are mass-produced in clandestine labs in Mexico using chemicals sourced from China.
To strengthen efforts against the drug, the DEA launched the “Fentanyl Free America” initiative, which combines enforcement actions with public awareness campaigns aimed at reducing both supply and demand. The agency said the program reflects its commitment to protecting communities from the dangers of fentanyl.
This article has been carefully fact-checked by our editorial team to ensure accuracy and eliminate any misleading information. We are committed to maintaining the highest standards of integrity in our content.
Leave a Comment