A four-month-long operation led by federal prosecutors and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) resulted in the seizure of enough fentanyl for 4,766,788 fatal doses in northern Ohio – enough to wipe out the entire population of the Columbus metro area more than two times over.
The agencies announced on Tuesday that the operation was part of the nationwide initiative “One Pill Can Kill.”
“Across the country and particularly here, in Northern Ohio, we have witnessed, firsthand, the proliferation of fentanyl and the devastating effects it has had on our neighbors and loved ones. Fighting back against drug traffickers who flood our streets with this deadly narcotic – particularly in pill form – is an enduring and relentless battle, but we must continue to fight,” First Assistant United States Attorney Michelle M. Baeppler said in a press release about the summer-long operation.
According to the United States Department of Justice, from May 23 through September 8 alone, the DEA and its law enforcement partners seized more than 65 kilograms of fentanyl powder and 87,000 fentanyl-laced pills in Ohio. In addition, 338 weapons were seized, including rifles, shotguns, pistols, and hand grenades.
Nationwide, over 10.2 million fentanyl pills and approximately 980 pounds of fentanyl powder were seized during the same period, the enforcement agency noted.
In September 2021 the DEA launched the One Pill Call Kill enforcement effort and public awareness campaign to help educate the public about the dangers of fentanyl pills and to fight against the threat of these “fake” pills.
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid that is similar to morphine but is 50 to 100 times more potent. In most adults, the DEA notes, a 2-3 milligram dose is fatal. The powerful drug is also made and used legally by prescription.
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) issued a report last year, saying that for the first time in modern history, over 100,000 Americans died of drug overdoses in the span of a year. Approximately two-thirds of those deaths were caused by fentanyl and other synthetic drugs.
The Ohio Department of Health states that fentanyl was involved in 81 percent of overdose deaths in 2020, often in combination with other drugs. That percentage was up from 76 percent in 2019, 73 percent in 2018, and 71 percent in 2017.
The DEA states that drug cartels have expanded their inventory to sell fentanyl pills in a variety of shapes, colors, and sizes to make the drugs more appealing to the user.
According to The United States Department of Justice, rainbow fentanyl was first reported to the DEA in February this year and it has now been found in 21 states.
“Fentanyl in pill form is a deliberate attempt by drug cartels to make illicit drug use more appealing to Americans,” DEA Detroit Special Agent in Charge Orville O. Greene said in the press release.
The agency said that they are continuing to educate individuals about the dangers of fake pills and urge that the only safe medications to take are ones prescribed by a medical professional and dispensed by a licensed pharmacist.
Additional resources on fentanyl for the community can be found on DEA’s Fentanyl Awareness page.
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Hannah Poling is a lead reporter at The Ohio Star and The Star News Network. Follow Hannah on Twitter @HannahPoling1. Email tips to [email protected].
