A two-part episode of the Game of Crimes podcast is highlighting the growing threat of counterfeit prescription pills laced with fentanyl and sold through social media platforms.
In Part I, former DEA Special Agents Derek Maltz and Aaron Graham discuss how criminal networks are producing fake pills designed to look like medications such as Xanax, Adderall, and Percocet. They warn that many contain fentanyl, which can be lethal in very small amounts. The first episode focuses on the scale of counterfeit pill production, the role of cartels, and links to supply chains involving Mexico and China.
The second episode examines how traffickers use platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat to reach young people directly. Maltz and Graham also discuss how emerging technologies, including AI and 3D printing, are making counterfeit pill production faster and harder to detect.
The podcast underscores a key message for parents, schools, and communities: counterfeit pills can look identical to legitimate prescriptions, and online drug sales are creating new risks for young people.
