Feds seized enough fentanyl to kill every person in 7 counties

Federal drug agents in Los Angeles have seized 38 million deadly doses of fentanyl this year — enough to kill every resident of Los Angeles, Orange, Ventura, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties, officials estimate.

Agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration field office have confiscated 7 million fentanyl pills and more than 1,000 pounds of fentanyl powder in 2022 — accounting for 10% of the drug seized across the country, according to the agency.

“As people prepare to celebrate the holidays and gather with friends and family, let us be mindful of the fentanyl threat that is destroying families across the nation and leaving empty seats at the dinner table this year,” said DEA Los Angeles Special Agent in Charge Bill Bodner.

“Los Angeles is a major transshipment hub for fentanyl and other drugs, and we continue to see massive amounts of addictive drugs flooding our neighborhoods. These seizures represent our tenacious efforts to make our communities safer and our ongoing commitment to save lives.”

The amount of fentanyl that was seized this year in the Los Angeles area was more than double the amount confiscated in 2021, according to the DEA.

Nationwide, the DEA seized about 379 million doses of the powerful opioid.

Federal officials say most of the fentanyl they have confiscated is being produced in secret Mexican factories using chemicals from China.

Over the last year, the number of counterfeit prescription pills laced with fentanyl has skyrocketed, leading the agency to issue a public safety alert about the threat.

Additionally, the counterfeit pills are becoming more deadly, officials say.

Approximately 60% of counterfeit pills now contain a lethal dose of fentanyl, the DEA announced in November, an increase from 40% in 2021.

Fentanyl overdose deaths have risen sharply in Los Angeles County each year since 2016, according to the Public Health Department.

There were 109 fentanyl overdose deaths in 2016 and more than 1,500 last year, according to the county.