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'One pill can kill': DEA seizes 440K fentanyl-laced pills in the Midwest
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration announced results of an enforcement surge called, "One Pill Can Kill."
CHICAGO - The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration announced results of an enforcement surge called, "One Pill Can Kill."
Since late May, DEA agents seized 440,000 fentanyl laced pills in Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin.
Nationwide, agents nabbed more than 10 million pills, plus 980 pounds of fentanyl powder.
"That's 36 million potential lives saved. The 10 million pills, the 980 pounds of fentanyl powder seized and then what's most important is that we're taking action against the cartels to identify who's doing this," said DEA Chicago Division Special Agent in Charge Robert Bell.
Special Agent in Charge Bell says Mexican cartels are flooding the U.S. with fentanyl to drive up profits.
Then, people think they're getting Adderall, Oxy or Xanax from that stranger on social media.
Instead, the pills are fake and laced with a highly addictive, and all too often, deadly drug.
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"They're stamping that fentanyl into fake pills into tricking Americans into thinking they're that they're legitimate medicine. And that's why we're calling these things poisonings in addition to overdoses because many times the users have no idea that they're taking fentanyl," said Bell.
Another major concern is rainbow fentanyl pills.
No, the worry is not that your child's Halloween candy is laced, but that kids might be drawn to pills that are brightly colored.
"Sometimes the traffickers call them Skittles and other candy names, and we're very concerned that this is going to appeal to a bigger group of users, young users," said Bell.
That's why the DEA is asking parents, caregivers, teachers, coaches, etc. to talk to young people about how one pill can kill.
You can go to https://www.dea.gov/onepill for more information.