Border Agents Seize Enough Fentanyl to Kill 2 Million Americans

In the past two years, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents have seized enough fentanyl to kill 2 million Americans, a top border official said.
The acting head of CBP visited San Diego on Thursday to give an update on border activity, highlighting an increase in fentanyl seizures and a 55 percent decrease in illegal immigration.
Troy Miller, the senior official performing the duties of the commissioner for the CBP, said enforcement efforts are improving the safety and security of communities nationwide. At a press conference held at the San Ysidro Port of Entry, he commended federal, state and local agencies for their joint efforts to disrupt the flow of drugs, particularly fentanyl, into the country.
Miller said: “In the last two fiscal years, CBP has seized more than 50,000 pounds of fentanyl; that’s more than enough to produce more than 2 million lethal doses of fentanyl.”
More than half of the seizures nationwide occur in California’s El Centro and San Diego sectors, according to CBP.
“All this matters because what happens at the border impacts communities across the nation, but the most important statistic is the opioids-related overdoses decreased last year,” Miller said to reporters.
The acting head of the CBP praised agents for not only confiscating more narcotics, but also cutting down on the number of migrant apprehensions.
“During fiscal year 2024, which ended on September 30, we saw historic migration numbers earlier in the year, we have significantly increased the consequences for those who illegally crossed into the United States; this has led to a continual meaningful decrease in unlawful border crossings,” Miller said.
Immigration and border security are key issues for voters in the approaching presidential election.
While immigration and drugs are distinct issues, they are connected through the activities of smuggling networks. Drug cartels often use the same networks and routes to smuggle drugs and people across the border.
Terri Beth Miller, senior editor at Rehab.com, told Newsweek the “overwhelming majority” of fentanyl seizures happen at the southwestern border of the U.S.
“Fentanyl is incredibly potent, at more than 50 times the strength of heroin and 100 times the strength of morphine. Just 2-3 milligrams, or the equivalent of 5-7 grains of table salt, can lead to respiratory suppression and potential death.
“It is both inexpensive to manufacture and easily accessible. Because of this, it’s increasingly being found in street drugs and counterfeit pharmaceuticals, contributing to the surge in fentanyl-related deaths due to unintentional exposure.
“Fentanyl exposure, whether accidental or intentional, can result in severe and potentially fatal depression of the respiratory system and the heart rate.
“Ingesting or inhaling the equivalent of 5-7 grains of table salt can result in death within minutes if an opioid agonist, such as Naloxone, is not administered to reverse the effects of the drug.
According to the Drug Enforcement Administration, illicit fentanyl is primarily manufactured in clandestine labs abroad and smuggled into the U.S. through Mexico. It’s then sold as powders, nasal sprays and counterfeit pills made to resemble legitimate prescription opioids.
Meanwhile, CBP agents uncovered a massive drug haul of blue fentanyl pills on October 9 that may be worth more than $11 million stashed in a vehicle in California, according to estimates based on previous drug busts.
Per CDC data, an estimated 74,702 Americans died from fentanyl overdoses in 2023.