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Arizona Border Agents Seize 1.2 Million Fentanyl Pills, 4 Pounds of Fentanyl Powder
Border Patrol agents at the Port of Nogales in Arizona seized over 1.2 million fentanyl pills and 4 pounds of fentanyl powder on Dec. 28, officials said.
Port Director Michael W. Humphries confirmed the seizure on Twitter, stating that border patrol agents “stopped two loads on Wednesday.”
The first shipment contained approximately 541,000 fentanyl tablets, 4 pounds of fentanyl powder, and over 37 pounds of methamphetamine concealed in the doors and rear panels of the cars, according to Humphries.
Seven hours later, approximately 689,200 fentanyl tablets were found hidden in a vehicle, according to the port director.
Fentanyl is a potent synthetic opioid that is 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times more potent than morphine. As little as 2 milligrams is potentially enough to be lethal.
Seizures of the drug at the border with Mexico have soared this year amid a growing crisis. The majority of fentanyl is mass-produced in Mexico using chemicals from China before being pressed into pills or mixed with other counterfeit pills made to look like Xanax, Adderall, or oxycodone.
The counterfeit drugs are then sold to unaware buyers.
Earlier this year, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) warned of a surge in mass overdose events involving fentanyl across the United States, stating that the drug is killing Americans at an “unprecedented” rate.
Wednesday’s seizure came just a week after Humphries said border agents at the Port of Nogales had seized approximately 230,600 fentanyl pills hidden inside the spare tire wheel well of a vehicle.
The next day, agents also seized approximately 832,000 fentanyl pills hidden throughout another vehicle attempting to enter the United States, according to Humphries.
https://www.theepochtimes.com/arizona-border-agents-seize-1-2-million-fentanyl-pills-4-pounds-of-fentanyl-powder_4952797.html