New Data Show Significant Changes in Drug Overdose Deaths
While progress has been made to combat overdose deaths, death rates involving synthetic opioids (excluding methadone) increased by 10% from 2017 to 2018. Keep Reading
ICE HSI Sees Increase in Criminal Arrests in FY 2019 in D.C., Virginia
HSI Washington, D.C. marked a ten-fold increase in narcotics seizures from nearly 400 lbs. in FY 2018 to over 4,000 lbs. in FY 2019, and a two-fold increase in firearms seizures. Keep Reading
Stopping Fentanyl at the Border: NIST Tests Whether Chemical Detectors Can Help
This research is the first to test the ability of IMS to distinguish fentanyl from the background clutter that might be expected at a border crossing. Keep Reading
Bronx Man Sentenced to More Than 12 Years in Prison for Conspiring to Distribute Narcotics on the Dark Web
Luis Fernandez has been sentenced to 151 months in prison for participating in a conspiracy to distribute carfentanil, fentanyl, and a fentanyl analogue over the dark web. Keep Reading
DEA Issues Warning Over Counterfeit Prescription Pills from Mexico
Mexican drug cartels are manufacturing mass quantities of counterfeit prescription pills containing fentanyl, a dangerous synthetic opioid. Keep Reading
How to Protect Yourself from Fentanyl Exposure
Toolkit has information about personal protective clothing and equipment, training, decontamination, and handling exposure to working dogs. Keep Reading
Cyber Crimes Center Gives Advanced ‘Darknet’ Training to Colorado Law Enforcement Officers
This fiscal year, HSI has trained more than 4,000 law enforcement on cyber investigations, including dark web and cryptocurrency investigations. Keep Reading
Operation Cookout Indictment Charges 39 in Heroin and Fentanyl Trafficking Conspiracy
“The narcotics organization identified by our team reached far and wide, spanning state lines and crossing all the way to and from our southern border." Keep Reading
Border Patrol Sniffs Out Heroin and Fentanyl Inside False Car Battery
During a pre-primary inspection, the on duty K-9 alerted to the vehicle. The driver was referred to secondary inspection for further questioning. Keep Reading
GAO Slams ‘Outdated’ CBP Inspection Policies and Processes
Because CBP has not updated many of its policies—in a few cases for almost 20 years—the GAO review found they do not always reflect changes in technology or processes, such as those for conducting searches and handling fentanyl. Keep Reading
Former Mexican Police Officer Charged with Trafficking Enough Fentanyl to Kill 10 Million
Contreras-Martinez was pulled over by a Texas DPS trooper driving eastbound on Interstate 40 in Amarillo in May 2019. Keep Reading
Darknet Fentanyl Dealer Indicted in Dallas for Selling Deadly Drug for Bitcoin
Shaughnessy allegedly transferred his bitcoin proceeds to other cryptocurrency wallets in exchange for regular fiat currency, which was shipped to his home in Dallas. Keep Reading
Millions in Cocaine, Heroin, Fentanyl Seized at Border Crossings Over Veterans Day Weekend
On Friday, a CBP narcotics detection canine detected a half-pound of heroin concealed in a package inside the body a 28-year-old woman. Keep Reading
WATCH: DOJ Releases New Fentanyl Safety Video for First Responders
"Exposure to synthetic opioids like fentanyl is one of the most dangerous threats facing law enforcement officers," Rosenstein warns. Keep Reading
Four Additional Chinese Nationals Indicted in North Dakota in Opioid Conspiracy Ring
The charges come as part of “Operation Denial,” an Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation into the international trafficking of fentanyl and other lethal drugs. Keep Reading
U.S. Drug Overdose Deaths Continue to Rise, Fueled by Synthetic Opioids
Overdose deaths increased in all categories of drugs examined for men and women, people ages 15 and older, all races and ethnicities, and across all levels of urbanization, CDC found. Keep Reading
White House Declares New War on Drugs to Stop Escalating Opioid Crisis
Plan aims to "reduce drug demand through education, awareness, and preventing over-prescription" and "cut off the flow of illicit drugs." Keep Reading
#RealDeal Interview: Understanding Opioid Addiction for LE & First Responders
Renowned pain management specialist Dr. Paul Christo talks about causes, contributors for first responders. Keep Reading