Customs officers at a Nogales port of entry seized nearly half-a-million fentanyl pills hidden in a gas tank, side panels and dash of an SUV on Nov. 3, 2023.New federal data shows that in October, Border Patrol’s Tucson Sector exceeded the previous monthly record for fentanyl seizures.
The data shows the Tucson Sector seized more than 220 pounds of fentanyl in October.
In addition to the Tucson Sector record, Arizona ports of entry continued to be highest in fentanyl seizures in October, with more than 500 pounds seized.
Arizona ports of entry surpassed San Diego ports in fiscal year 2023, for the first time, for seizing the highest amount of fentanyl.
Part of the reason may be that the Sinaloa cartel, one of the largest producers of fentanyl, is active just across the border from Arizona in neighboring Sonora, Mexico.
The Pima County medical examiner reports 241 people have died from fentanyl overdoses so far this year in Pima County.
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