Border agents in Detroit have seized a large quantity of fentanyl following an investigation into international mail.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) reported on Monday that the seizure occurred on June 2. Six pounds of fentanyl was confiscated at the Fort Street Cargo Facility.
CBP agents were conducting a routine inspection of international mail shipments when a K-9 alerted the presence of fentanyl. When agents took a closer look, they found numerous bags of pills. Tests confirmed that the pills were fentanyl.
Marty C. Raybon, Director of Field Operations for CBP Detroit, said it is the largest fentanyl bust in the history of the Port of Detroit.
"I can tell you that the dangers of fentanyl cannot be overstated," said Raybon in a media release on Monday. "According to the CDC, in 2023, there were over 100,000 drug overdose deaths, with synthetic opioids like fentanyl being the main contributors. Given that just 2 milligrams can be a lethal dose, this amount had the potential to kill over 1.3 million people."
The total dollar amount of the seizure was not immediately disclosed, and it was also not clear how much, if any, of the seizure involved parcels from Canada.
The seizure, also one of the largest on the U.S.-Canadian border in the last five years, is now being handled by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.