Fentanyl Surge in Texas: A Public Health and Safety Crisis

US Customs and Border Protection reported an increase in fentanyl in Texas. There’s a 1,066% increase in the amount of fentanyl seized in FY2021 in south Texas. Agents across eight ports from Brownsville to Del Rio seized 87,652 pounds of narcotics. Among these, 588 pounds were fentanyl. Fentanyl is the deadliest drug in the US and is 50 times more powerful than heroin. Cartels in Mexico smuggle the drugs into the US. From May 2020 through April 2021, synthetic opioids like fentanyl accounted for about 64,000 overdose deaths in the US. CBP seized a total of 624,500 pounds of drugs. This includes 11,203 pounds of fentanyl, which is enough to kill the entire U.S. population about eight times over.

The dramatic increase in Fentanyl seizures in South Texas highlights the region’s crucial role as a primary corridor for illicit narcotics entering the United States. Overall fentanyl seizures nationwide have been consistently high in recent years. However, fluctuations in the South Texas sectors often indicate shifts in cartel smuggling strategies and the effectiveness of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) operations.

The Source and Smuggling Method

The vast majority of fentanyl seized at the Southern Border is synthetic. It is manufactured in Mexico using precursor chemicals often sourced from China. CBP data indicates that over 90% of interdicted fentanyl is stopped at official Ports of Entry (POEs). It is primarily smuggled in vehicles driven by U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, or other travelers with legal entry status. The South Texas POEs—such as Laredo, Hidalgo, and Brownsville—are high-volume commercial and passenger crossings. They are ideal targets for criminal organizations attempting to conceal the drug amid legitimate traffic.

Impact on Enforcement Strategy

The reported spike in seizures drives significant changes in border enforcement. CBP must rapidly increase the deployment of resources, including:

• Non-Intrusive Inspection (NII) Technology: Dramatically expanding the use of advanced scanning and imaging equipment at POEs. This aims to increase the percentage of vehicles screened for contraband.
• Targeted Operations: Launching intelligence-driven operations. These include “Operation Blue Lotus” and “Operation Plaza Spike.” The operations aim to disrupt cartel logistics, target “plaza bosses,” and interdict fentanyl precursor chemicals.
• Forward Operating Laboratories: Establishing rapid-testing facilities near the border to quickly identify fentanyl, enabling faster action and intelligence gathering.

These seizures underscore that the fight against fentanyl is primarily an interdiction effort at legal crossing points. This emphasizes the need for advanced technology and intelligence fusion to counteract the sophisticated tactics of transnational criminal organizations.