What to know
- The New York Division of the Federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the New York City Office of the Special Narcotics Prosecutor (NPS) announced Thursday that record quantities of counterfeit pills mixed with fentanyl and fentanyl powder have been seized in New York during 2022.
- The New York division of the DEA, which covers the state of New York, said it seized 1.9 million counterfeit prescription pills medicated with fentanyl in the past year, marking a 152 percent increase from 2021, and 1,958 pounds of fentanyl, enough for 72 million lethal doses.
- In addition, nearly 30,000 pounds of cocaine, more than 700 pounds of heroin and 1,800 pounds of methamphetamines were seized in 2022, according to authorities.
NEW YORK – The New York Division of the Federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Office of the Special Narcotics Attorney (NPS) in New York City announced Thursday that record amounts of seized quantities of counterfeit fentanyl medicated prescription pills and powder of fentanyl in New York during 2022.
The New York division of the DEA, which covers the state of New York, said it seized 1.9 million counterfeit prescription pills medicated with fentanyl in the past year, marking a 152 percent increase from 2021, and 1,958 pounds of fentanyl, enough for 72 million lethal doses.
In addition, nearly 30,000 pounds of cocaine, more than 700 pounds of heroin and 1,800 pounds of methamphetamines were seized in 2022, according to authorities.
“Thousands of New Yorkers are mourning the precious lives the deadly fentanyl took last year,” said Special Narcotics Prosecutor Bridget Brennan. “Fentanyl saturates New York City’s supply of illegal drugs and is a factor in approximately 80 percent of overdose deaths. Even casual or occasional use of illegal drugs could be fatal, and with an explosion of counterfeit fentanyl pills, a single tablet bought online or on social media could be deadly.”
In 2022, cases handled by the Special Narcotics Prosecutor’s Office, with the help of local, state and federal partners, led to the seizure of more than 950,000 counterfeit pills containing fentanyl. This number marks over 425% compared to 2021.
According to officials, Mexican drug cartels are increasingly pushing fentanyl in counterfeit pills designed to look like blue M30 oxycodone pills or in a multitude of colors.
Officials say more than 3,000 fatal overdoses occurred in New York City in the 12 months ending in July 2022, according to estimates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Of these, about 8 out of 10 deaths are due to fentanyl, or more than 2,300 deaths.
In December 2022 alone, SNP cases conducted with the DEA’s New York Drug Enforcement Task Force (NYDETF) and other partners resulted in the seizure of about 175,000 fentanyl pills, according to preliminary data. An analysis of the investigations conducted by SNP and NYDETF during this period reveals striking similarities: the defendants reside out of state, with the majority hailing from the West Coast; large quantities of fentanyl pills and powder were flown in for distribution in New York City; vehicles used in transportation had license plates from other states; and the drug shipments were worth a million dollars or more.
“The seizure of illegal drugs is an integral part of the NYPD’s mission to protect our city and its people,” said NYPD Commissioner Keechant L. Sewell. “I applaud our NYPD investigators, the New York City Special Narcotics Prosecutor’s Office, the DEA, and all of our law enforcement partners for their herculean work this year, and I know that through our continued partnership we will gain even more momentum by holding criminals accountable and keeping New Yorkers safe in the coming year.”
