Enough fentanyl to kill every American: 379 million deadly doses seized in 2022
- The highly-addictive, manufactured opioid is 50 times more potent than heroin, and a tiny amount can be fatal
- Most of the material is produced in ‘secret factories’ in Mexico with chemicals obtained from China, the DEA says
During the past year, United States federal authorities seized more than 379 million potentially deadly doses of fentanyl – enough to kill every American – the Drug Enforcement Administration reported.
The haul so far includes 10,000 pounds of fentanyl powder and 50.6 million fentanyl-laced pills disguised to resemble legitimate prescription medication, the agency reported, as officials have continued to spotlight the deadly drug threat that continues to ravage the country.
The highly-addictive, manufactured opioid is 50 times more potent than heroin, and only a tiny amount – enough to rest on a pencil tip – can be fatal. More than 100,000 people died of drug overdoses last year, and two-thirds involved fentanyl.
“DEA’s top operational priority is to defeat the two Mexican drug cartels – the Sinaloa and Jalisco (CJNG) Cartels – that are primarily responsible for the fentanyl that is killing Americans today,” agency administrator Anne Milgram said.
Most of the deadly material, the DEA said, is mass-produced in “secret factories” in Mexico with chemicals obtained from China.
Last year, Milgram and Justice Department officials described the threat as a “national emergency”. And earlier this year, officials announced the seizure of more than 36 million lethal doses during a five-month period ending in September.
