The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) seized more than 45 million fentanyl pills as of Dec.1
“Fentanyl Free America represents DEA’s unwavering commitment to save American lives and end the fentanyl crisis, we are making significant progress in this fight, and we must continue to intensify efforts to disrupt the fentanyl supply and reduce demand,” DEA Administrator Terrance Cole said. “DEA is striking harder and evolving faster to dismantle the foreign terrorists fueling this crisis, while empowering all our partners to join the fight to prevent fentanyl-related tragedies. Together, we can achieve a fentanyl free America and create a safer future for generations to come.”
In October, 24 domestic field divisions and seven foreign divisions initiated Operation Fentanyl Free America, a comprehensive enforcement and public awareness campaign aimed at reducing both the supply and demand for fentanyl.
The enforcement effort resulted in the seizure of 13 firearms, 10.56 kilograms of cocaine, 25 kilograms of marijuana, 36.23 kilograms of fentanyl powder, 497.76 kilograms of methamphetamine, 19,000 fentanyl pills, $828,545 in currency and $267,500 in assets. There also were 24 arrests.
The initiative’s goal is to eliminate the fentanyl supply in the United States. Nearly 325,000 Americans have died as the result of synthetic opioids since 2021.