Border patrol has seized enough fentanyl in a three month period to 'kill the population of US five times over'.
The shocking statistics were revealed in a hearing yesterday (7 February) in which Border Patrol chiefs were questioned about dangerous narcotics making their way into the country.
Representative Tim Burchett highlighted recent Customs and Border Patrol figures showing that a whopping 9,400 lbs of fentanyl was caught between October and December 2022, 7,200 lbs of which came through the southern border.
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Addressing the Border Control officials, Burchett said: "Approximately 76%, or 7,200 pounds of that [fentanyl] was seized coming through our southwest border, would you agree with that?"
After they both agree, the politician goes on to highlight the damage this amount of the synthetic opioid could cause.
"I'll do the math for you," he said. "It's 1.6 billion people with a b. That's enough fentanyl to kill every American almost five times over."
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Fentanyl has become a top priority for US Customs and Border Protection due to the 'extreme danger' the narcotic poses to communities.
Used to treat severe pain, for example during or after an operation or a serious injury, or pain from other diseases, the opioid painkiller is up to 50 times stronger than heroin and is only available on prescription.
While common effects of the substance are euphoria, sleepiness and pain relief, the risks are hefty, from constipation and nausea to respiratory arrest and death, especially if mixed with other class A drugs.
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Burchett's estimations are based off of the Drug Enforcement Administration's (DEA) suggestion that as little as two milligrams of fentanyl, equal to 10-15 grains of table salt, is considered a lethal dose.
Elsewhere in the House Oversight and Accountability Committee, representatives pointed the finger at President Joe Biden as overdoses and deaths continue to rise.
Burchett went on to say: "The bottom line is this country was on its way, I felt, to a secure border under President Trump.
"But President Biden put an end to that on his first day in office. I believe Americans are dying as a result."
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However, Democratic Congressman of Texas, Greg Casar, described blaming the problem on immigrants as a 'sham' and said a majority of those smuggling drugs across the border are US citizens.
"People driving narcotics across the border are citizens with passports who can get past the checkpoints," he said.
"The people trafficking fentanyl on the border are US citizens. The people suffering and dying from overdoses in our communities are US citizens – so why on Earth are we talking about immigrants today?"
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Daisy Phillipson