1.3K lbs. of fentanyl seized at Texas border this year

Amber CoakleyDecember 10, 2021

A Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) chemist checks confiscated powder containing fentanyl at the DEA Northeast Regional Laboratory on October 8, 2019 in New York. (Photo by DON EMMERT/AFP via Getty Images)

OAN Newsroom
UPDATED 10:12 AM PT – Friday, December 10, 2021

A record setting 1,300 pounds of fentanyl has been seized at the Texas-Mexico border. This is compared to only 200 pounds seized in 2020. On Thursday, the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) held a press conference focusing on the smuggling of fentanyl, which is sold as a synthetic heroin to increase profits.

This means pills are being laced with the deadly drug. DPS chemist Jennifer Hatch said this leads to death because people don’t realize what they are actually ingesting. Fentanyl is cheap to make and as a result is able to turn a large profit.

Even though the drug comes into the U.S. over the southern border, she explained that it’s an international operation.

“A lot of this stuff is actually coming over from China,” said Hatch. “What it used to be is fentanyl powder coming in through Mexico and the majority is smuggled up through the border.”

Operation Lone Star, which was implemented by Republican Governor Greg Abbott earlier this year to crack down on organizations that are making and distributing drugs, has been implemented indefinitely.

Operation Lone Star is a coordinated effort between DPS’ air, ground, marine and tactical assets to ensure we are able to accomplish this vital mission set forth by Gov. @GregAbbott_TX. Together, with our partners at @TXMilitary, we are working hard every day to protect Texas. pic.twitter.com/qAtbFQZ3Hj

— Texas DPS (@TxDPS) December 1, 2021

Major Mike Perry of the Texas National Guard said drugs have been crossing the southern border at a drastically increased rate.

“Six-hundred-sixty-nine turnbacks from Wednesday to Wednesday,” he expalined. “A turnback is considered a win for us…we are here to repel block any criminal activity coming into the state.”

There are now 10,000 troops along the border to stop drugs from entering the U.S.