LOS ANGELES (CNS) – Over one million counterfeit fentanyl pills were seized by federal drug enforcement agents in Los Angeles in October, part of a targeted enforcement operation that’s taking place in other cities across the country, officials said Wednesday.
According to the Drug Enforcement Administration, the agency’s Los Angeles field office seized 1,027,206 counterfeit pills, 70.97 kilograms of fentanyl powder, 978 kilograms methamphetamine, 149.32 kilograms of cocaine, three pill press machines, 15 firearms and $28,852,441 in U.S. currency in October.
The DEA ‘s Los Angeles Field Division was one of 23 in the U.S. and seven abroad taking part in what the federal government has dubbed Operation Fentanyl Free America, which was launched in October.
“A fentanyl-free America is within reach thanks to increased enforcement, education, awareness and prevention,” said Brian Clark, special agent in charge of the DEA’s Los Angeles Field Division in a news release. “We all play a critical role in the fight against fentanyl. We’ve made substantial progress, but we can’t stop now.”
According to the DEA, the agency had seized more than 45 million fentanyl pills and more than 9,320 pounds of fentanyl powder as of December 1.
“DEA intelligence indicates a shift in cartel operations, with increased trafficking of fentanyl powder and domestic production of fentanyl pills. The seizure of more than two dozen pill press machines in October further highlights this trend,” the agency said in a news release, which reported that since 2021, synthetic opioids have killed nearly 325,000 Americans.
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