Alarming Surge in Utah of Fentanyl Pills In 2024

With the Olympics in the air setting records seems like a good thing, but this is a record in Utah that we wish hadn't been set.

In 2024, the Drug Enforcement Administration's (DEA) Rocky Mountain Field Division (RMFD) has seized nearly 800,000 fentanyl pills in Utah, setting a new record. Between January 1 and June 30, over 774,000 pills were confiscated, surpassing last year’s total of 664,200 by more than 16.5%.

The DEA, along with its federal partners, is working to combat the distribution of this deadly drug, but the danger is very real and very close to home. The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah has prosecuted numerous cases involving fentanyl distribution, including one that resulted in the seizure of approximately 200,000 pills valued at nearly $450,000. Many of these pills contain a lethal dose, posing a significant threat to our community.

Utah residents, this alarming surge in fentanyl seizures should be a wake-up call.

Fentanyl is the deadliest drug threat in the United States. The RMFD, covering Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, and Montana, reports similar trends throughout the region. Fentanyl pills can cost as little as $.02-$.04 to produce, but can be sold for $5-$6 each in urban areas and even higher in rural locations.

Utah is a key corridor for drug trafficking, with major highways like Interstates 15 and 80 facilitating the movement of drugs to other regions.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that over 108,000 Americans died from drug poisoning last year, with fentanyl involved in more than 70% of these cases.

Utahns, it’s time to act. Have a serious conversation about the dangers of fentanyl with your family because the danger is flowing right through our state. For more resources go to www.dea.gov/onepill.