CBP: America’s Front Line Against Fentanyl
CBP sharpens focus to stop deadly fentanyl and other synthetics, as well as precursors and the equipment to make them, in midst of unprecedented smuggling of the dangerous drugs
CBP officers in Nogales, Arizona, seized nearly $4.6 million in fentanyl and methamphetamine totaling close to 650 pounds in January 2019. Photo by Jerry Glaser
It is a scourge taking the lives of more than 150 Americans each day – around 55,000 every year. But it’s not cancer, heart disease or even COVID – although those are also devastating to the population. It’s the number of overdose deaths from synthetic drugs, such as illicit fentanyl. With the other health issues, agencies such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) take the lead in protecting the American public. With fentanyl and other synthetic drugs crossing our borders, it’s U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
“In my 30 years as a customs official, the trafficking of synthetic illicit drugs like fentanyl is one of the toughest, most daunting challenges I have ever seen,” said CBP Senior Official Performing the Duties of the Commissioner Troy Miller. “We have the right capabilities from interdiction to intelligence capabilities. We're in the right places at our land borders and between the ports in international airports, in both the passenger and air cargo environments and at our maritime borders, too. And we know what works. Intelligence-driven operations, relentless, targeting people, partnerships, and technology. CBP is well positioned to lead the federal government's efforts in this fight.”
“We have a multi-layered strategy for tackling the fentanyl and synthetic opioid issue,” said Joe Draganac, director of CBP’s Fentanyl Campaign Directorate established under CBP’s new Strategy to Combat Fentanyl and Other Synthetic Drugs.
This image shows how a few grains of fentanyl – just 2 milligrams – can be a lethal dose. Photo courtesy of U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration
This image shows how a few grains of fentanyl – just 2 milligrams – can be a lethal dose. Photo courtesy of U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration
“We’re going after the precursor chemicals, the pill presses and parts, the supply chain and movement of finished product, and the [money] that finances these illicit organizations,” Draganac said. “This touches every part of our authority; there’s a border nexus for all of this.”
Taking the Fight to the Source
Much of the problem is that chemicals and tools to make the dangerous drugs are coming into the U.S. from locations such as East Asia through legitimate means – cargo on airplanes, ships and express couriers – and those items many times go to locations in Mexico, where the finished products are made and smuggled across the southwest border. Intercepting those drugs is done by traditional CBP methods, such as X-rays and drug detection dogs, but Draganac pointed out the agency is trying to be active and stop the shipments long before they leave foreign shores.
https://www.cbp.gov/frontline/cbp-america-s-front-line-against-fentanyl
