A Border Patrol K-9 alerted authorities to more than $2 million worth of fentanyl during a routine traffic stop in Arizona. The seizure took place at a checkpoint along I-8 near Yuma.
Chief Patrol Agent Patricia McGurk-Daniel wrote on Twitter that authorities found more than 192 pounds of fentanyl, enough to kill 48 million people. The scale of this bust is particularly striking as it surpasses the total amount of fentanyl seized throughout the entire Fiscal Year 2022 in the Yuma Sector, as indicated by public records from the US Customs and Border Protections.
Photographs posted by McGurk-Daniel shed light on the sophisticated methods employed by drug smugglers to conceal their illicit cargo. The images reveal packets of the deadly drug cleverly hidden within car seats. FOX10 Phoenix reports that authorities also found fentanyl hidden inside the gas tank of the car.
Another photograph showcases the K-9 unit standing beside the vehicle after a successful search operation.
The DEA says just two milligrams of fentanyl can be deadly. A record nearly 110,000 Americans died from drug overdoses in 2022. Fentanyl and other synthetic opioids were the primary contributors to these deaths.
Just a few days ago Emily’s Hope also told you about new research that reveals an alarming prevalence of unintentional fentanyl use. The study found that more than 80% of New Yorkers who inject drugs test positive for fentanyl, despite only 18% using it intentionally.