PHOENIX — The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration released a report Thursday stating that the amount of fentanyl seized in 2023 is the most ever seized by the DEA in a single year.
According to the administration, more than 77 million fentanyl pills and nearly 12,000 pounds of fentanyl powder were seized in 2023 across the country. It says that is enough to kill every American.
Officials say that more than 40 million fentanyl pills and over 380 pounds of fentanyl powder were seized in Arizona, accounting for about 52% of fentanyl pills and about 32% of fentanyl powder seized last year.
Cheri Oz, the special agent in charge of the DEA Phoenix Field Division, said Arizona has become the main transportation point for fentanyl arriving in the United States.
"Gateway really is the exact right word," SAC Oz said. "We are finding cases in Arizona linked to every single state in the U.S., territories, and other countries. They are coming through here, being re-packaged, and then shipped."
The DEA warns that fentanyl pills today are deadlier than ever with laboratory testing showing that seven out of 10 pills contained a potentially deadly dose of fentanyl. According to the DEA, two milligrams of fentanyl is considered a deadly dose.
And SAC Oz points to one major culprit for making Arizona a hotbed for fentanyl.
"The truth is, it is the Sinaloa Cartel," SAC Oz says. "The Sinaloa Cartel is our primary driver and the major threat we have here in Arizona. For lack of a better term, they 'own' the routes that run through Arizona. All those pills are not intended to stay in Arizona. They were all used as a trans-shipment point, intended to be re-packaged, and moved throughout the United States."
The growing fentanyl problem is one law enforcement in Arizona is taking very seriously, explains SAC Oz.
"We are all working together to put an end to this. We seized over 40 million pills. That is extraordinary. That is a lot of work and a lot of people that are really focused on one mission and that's really saving lives."
State officials and nonprofits in Arizona have been working to make Naloxone (Narcan), the drug that can reverse an opioid overdose, more accessible in the Valley.
RELATED: Overdose-reversal drug Narcan to hit store shelves next week
In August, the City of Phoenix announced that free Naloxone kits are available at all 17 Phoenix public libraries.
Valle del Sol Clinic announced this week that a Narcan vending machine will open Friday. In a release, the clinic says the vending machine "will provide swift access to Naloxone."
The clinic is located at 1209 S 1st Ave. in Phoenix.
If you or someone you know is struggling with fentanyl abuse, the DEA has information and resources to help here.
