U.S. Border Patrol agents seize enough drugs this fiscal year to kill entire US population several times over

WASHINGTON, D.C. – While it may not be surprising that United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents have been hard at work protecting the nation’s borders, the amount of drugs the federal agency has seized this fiscal year alone may come as a shock.

According to statistics provided by the federal agency, they have seized enough drugs to kill over six billion people.

U.S. Border Patrol keeps statistics of all enforcement actions taken by the federal agency by fiscal year, meaning from October 1st of each year until the end of September the following year. This fiscal year, which has until the end of next month to conclude, the federal agency has seized enough fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine to wipe out all of the United States.

The agency has taken in over 22,000 pounds of fentanyl, 175,000 pounds of methamphetamine, and 70,000 pounds of cocaine. Keep in mind, the lethal dose for fentanyl, depending on a person’s tolerance and body makeup, is roughly two milligrams per the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA).

While the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol has not released whether the other drugs seized were mixed with fentanyl, the DEA has stated there is a “significant risk that illegal drugs” have been mixed with the deadly synthetic.

In a release, the DEA wrote, “There is significant risk that illegal drugs have been intentionally contaminated with fentanyl. Because of its potency and low cost, drug dealers have been mixing fentanyl with other drugs including heroin, methamphetamine, and cocaine, increasing the likelihood of a fatal interaction.”

The DEA reported that seized pills tested by the agency showed almost half, 42 percent, contained at least two milligrams of fentanyl which is considered a “potentially lethal dose.” They also noted “one kilogram of fentanyl has the potential to kill 500,000 people,” making the quantity of the drug seized by CBP even more shocking.

The number of lethal drugs seized at ports of entry nationwide does not count toward the quantity that has safely made it across the border or produced in the United States. An example of that comes from a recent drug bust in Florence County, South Carolina where two people were recently taken into custody for trafficking in methamphetamine, possession with intent to sell marijuana, and possession with intent to sell heroin.

The Florence County Sheriff’s Office reported the recent bust of 40-year-old Brandon Moore and 37-year-old Ashley Poole after serving a search warrant on a home on Deerfield Road in Johnsonville. Deputies reported seizing fentanyl, methamphetamine, heroin, and marijuana during the raid.

Florence County Sheriff T.J. Joye reported the investigation came after they received numerous complaints from residents in the area who were fed up with the illegal activity occurring in the area.

He provided a statement which read, “More and more, we are seeing that people are fed up with drug activity in their neighborhoods and the violence that always follows. And this case is an example of the community letting us know what they are seeing so that we can investigate.

“I urge citizens to contact us with their concerns. We are in this fight together.”

Both were being held at the Florence County Detention Center until they can post bond as of August 16th.
 
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