The Drug Enforcement Administration is alerting the public of dangerous counterfeit pills killing Americans.
Mexican drug cartels are manufacturing mass quantities of counterfeit prescription pills containing fentanyl, a dangerous synthetic opioid that is lethal in minute doses, for distribution throughout North America.
(There’s a rise in blue pills that are synthetic opioids and more Arizona teens are overdosing on them. Courtesy of azfamily powered by 3TV & CBS5AZ and YouTube. Posted on Feb 19, 2019.)
Based on a sampling of tablets seized nationwide between January and March 2019, DEA found that 27 percent contained potentially lethal doses of fentanyl.
“Capitalizing on the opioid epidemic and prescription drug abuse in the United States, drug trafficking organizations are now sending counterfeit pills made with fentanyl in bulk to the United States for distribution,” said DEA Acting Administrator Uttam Dhillon.
“Counterfeit pills that contain fentanyl and fentanyl-laced heroin are responsible for thousands of opioid-related deaths in the United States each year.”
Fentanyl and other highly potent synthetic opioids remain the primary driver behind the ongoing opioid crisis, with fentanyl involved in more deaths than any other illicit drug.
A lethal dose of fentanyl is estimated to be about two milligrams, but can vary based on an individual’s body size, tolerance, amount of previous usage and other factors.
In January of 2019, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at the Nogales Commercial Facility seized nearly $4.6 million in fentanyl and methamphetamine totaling close to 650 pounds in a single seizure, a Mexican national attempted to smuggle into the United States through the Port of Nogales.
(U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials have made their biggest ever fentanyl bust (main), seizing a quantity large enough to kill 100million people. CBP officials said they captured nearly 254 pounds (114kg) of the deadly synthetic opioid from a secret compartment inside a truck carrying a load of Mexican produce heading into US at the Nogales border crossing in Arizona (inset). The drugs, with a street value of about $3.5million, were found in Jan 2019, hidden in a compartment under the rear floor of a tractor-trailer. Courtesy of Daily Mail and YouTube. Posted on Feb 1, 2019.)
The seizure was the largest seizure of fentanyl in CBP history. Furthermore the methamphetamine seizure represents the third largest at an Arizona port.
CBP Officers discovered more than 400 packages of drugs concealed within a special floor compartment of a trailer that was laden with cucumbers, driven by a 26-year-old truck driver.
Following an alert by a CBP narcotics detection canine, CBP officers seized nearly 254 pounds of fentanyl with a value of approximately $3.5 million and almost 395 pounds of methamphetamine valued at $1.1 million.
“Opioids pose a real danger to every community in America and are having fatal consequences across our nation,” explained Nogales Area Port Director Michael Humphries.
The driver of the vehicle was arrested and turned over to Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), who charged him with two counts of 21 USC 841, possession with intent to distribute and is currently in federal custody.
“This case clearly shows that HSI’s and CBP’s collaborative efforts continue to have an impact, as those attempting to smuggle illicit drugs are stopped at the border,” said HSI Special Agent in Charge Scott Brown.
“These efforts exhibit the combined resources of law enforcement agencies’ resolve to combating these deadly drugs from entering our communities.”
(Learn More. Hear how ICE investigates border-related crimes in Arizona from the head of the agency’s investigative arm Homeland Security Investigations. Courtesy of Arizona Public Media and YouTube. Posted on Jun 21, 2019.)
The DEA’s full Fentanyl Signature Profiling Program Report on the recent drug sampling and testing is available here:https://admin.dea.gov/sites/default/files/2019-10/DEA_Fentanyl_Signature_Profiling_Program_Report-Oct-2019.pdf.
DEA & US Border Patrol Selected as a Finalist in 2019 ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Awards Program
Winners to be Announced at the ‘ASTORS’ Awards Luncheon at ISC East – Register Today
Time is running out to Register for the ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Awards Luncheon on November 20th, in New York City and give yourself & your clients a break from the show!
The Annual ‘ASTORS’ Awards Program is specifically designed to honor distinguished government and vendor solutions that deliver enhanced value, benefit and intelligence to end users in a variety of government, homeland security and public safety vertical markets.
The highlight of the 2019 AST Homeland Security Awards Program will be the ‘ASTORS’ Awards Presentation Luncheon at ISC East, in the Jacob Javits Exhibition Center from 12:00pm – 3:00pm, room 1A05.
ISC East is the Northeast’s largest security industry event and ISC East 2019 will feature Drones & Robotics.
Your ‘ASTORS’ Awards Luncheon registration includes complimentary attendee access to both ISC East – and the Infosecurity ISACA North America Expo and Conference, where you can meet the world’s most innovative suppliers and cyber experts, immerse yourself in hands-on tech and learn from world-renowned speakers and thought-leaders.
Two Global Leaders – One Combined Conference and Exhibition
Already Exhibiting and/or attending the 2019 ISC East Conference?
Thank take advantage of this exclusive luncheon opportunity to take a break from the show – Invite your team, guests, clients and show visitors to a lovely and affordable plated meal event in the heart of New York City, for a fabulous networking opportunity!
Go to https://americansecuritytoday.com/product/awards-luncheon/ to secure your seat or reserve a table.
***Limited space available so Register Today. There will be no on-site registrations.
The 2018 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Program drew an overwhelming response from industry leaders with a record high number of corporate and government nominations received, as well as record breaking ‘ASTORS’ Presentation Luncheon Attendees, with top firms trying to register for the exclusive high – end luncheon and networking opportunity – right up to the event kickoff on Wednesday afternoon, at the ISC East registration!
Over 130 distinguished guests representing National, State and Local Governments, and Industry Leading Corporate Firms, gathered from across North America, Europe and the Middle East to be honored among their peers in Physical and Cyber Security Fields including:
- The Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
- The Federal Protective Service (FPS)
- Argonne National Laboratory
- The Department of Homeland Security Science & Technology (DHS S&T)
- The Department of Justice (DOJ)
- The Security Exchange Commission Office of Personnel Management (SEC OPM)
- The Pentagon Force Protection Agency (PFPA)
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)
- Int Assoc of Counterterrorism and Security Professionals (IACSP)
- Lenel, Attivo Networks, Hanwha Techwin, FLIR Systems, SolarWinds, ATI Systems, Everbridge, Konica Minolta Business Solutions, Verint, Canon U.S.A., Gurucul, Regroup Mass Notification, BriefCam, ShotSpotter, HID Global, IPVideo Corp, SWORD Technologies, Kiernan Group Holdings, Allied Universal, Code Dx, Automatic Systems, TCOM LP, NICE Public Safety, PC Matic, Rave Mobile Safety, Ameristar Perimeter Security and More!
Register Today at https://americansecuritytoday.com/product/awards-luncheon/ to secure your seat or reserve a table.
The Annual ‘ASTORS’ Awards is the preeminent U.S. Homeland Security Awards Program highlighting the most cutting-edge and forward-thinking security solutions coming onto the market today, to ensure our readers have the information they need to stay ahead of the competition, and keep our Nation safe – one facility, street, and city at a time.
Why the 2018 ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Awards Program?
American Security Today’s comprehensive Annual Homeland Security Awards Program is organized to recognize the most distinguished vendors of physical, IT, port security, law enforcement, and first responders, in acknowledgment of their outstanding efforts to ‘Keep our Nation Secure, One City at a Time.’
Why American Security Today?
The traditional security marketplace has long been covered by a host of publications putting forward the old school basics to what is Today – a fast changing security landscape.
American Security Today is uniquely focused on the broader Homeland Security & Public Safety marketplace with over 75,000 readers at the Federal, State and local levels of government as well as firms allied to government.
American Security Today brings forward a fresh compelling look and read with our customized digital publications that hold readers eyes throughout the story with cutting edge editorial that provides solutions to their challenges.
The 2019 ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Awards Program is Proudly Sponsored by ATI Systems, Attivo Networks, Automatic Systems, Desktop Alert and SWORD Technologies.
AST strives to meet a 3 STAR trustworthiness rating, based on the following criteria:
- Provides named sources
- Reported by more than one notable outlet
- Includes supporting video, direct statements, or photos
Subscribe to the AST Daily News Alert Here.
Learn More…
Overdose Deaths Plummet in States Hit Hardest by Drug Crisis (Videos)
