United States Drug Enforcement Administration

SALT LAKE CITY - With less than six months remaining in 2024, the Drug Enforcement Administration's Rocky Mountain Field Division (RMFD) has already seized nearly 800,000 fentanyl pills in Utah - a new record.

In operations between January 1 and June 30, 2024, more than 774,000 fentanyl pills were seized. That total eclipsed 2023’s record mark by more than 16.5% - in just six months. Last year, an estimated 664,200 pills were seized in Utah.

“It’s an unfortunate record to set, especially considering it took only a half-year to get there,” said DEA Rocky Mountain Field Division Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Pullen. “The number of pills coming into Utah is obviously concerning. But this also shows that DEA and our partner agencies continue to disrupt the Sinaloa and Jalisco drug cartels based in Mexico.”

DEA continues to work closely with federal partners – namely, the United States Attorney’s Office, District of Utah.

“Fentanyl is the deadliest drug threat in our country, and we continue to see an increase in the number of pills seized in cases involving the distribution of fentanyl in Utah,” said United States Attorney Trina A. Higgins of the District of Utah. “One of the fentanyl distribution cases my office prosecuted this year included the seizure of about 200,000 fentanyl pills, which is worth nearly half a million dollars ($450,000). Considering that more than half of those pills likely contain a lethal dose of fentanyl, the danger to our communities is staggering. My office is committed to stopping this poison from being distributed in our communities by prosecuting those responsible.”

Seizure records have been set due to successful investigative work, but also because fentanyl pills continue flooding into Utah. 

 “These fentanyl pills are not only destined for users in Utah, but the state is also a corridor – think Interstates 15 and 80 – for drug trafficking to locations to the north and east,” said Dustin Gillespie, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the DEA’s Salt Lake City District Office.

Deadly fentanyl pills are incredibly cheap to produce – $.02-$.04 per pill – and are selling for $5-$6 each in Salt Lake City. Rural areas see even higher per-pill prices.

The RMFD is comprised of Colorado, Utah, Wyoming and Montana. Colorado is also on pace to break 2023 seizure records; Montana is on a similar pace and Wyoming is a bit behind last year.

DEA laboratory testing has found seven out of every ten fentanyl pills contains a potential lethal dose. The CDC reports of the more than 108,000 Americans who died last year due to drug poisoning – more than 70% of the cases involved fentanyl.

The DEA urges families to have the discussion about fentanyl.

One pill can kill, but one conversation can save. 

Resources can be found at www.dea.gov/onepill