ARIZONA – U.S. Customs and Border Protection announce today the seizure of 254 pounds of the deadly synthetic opioid fentanyl in powder form during a search at a border checkpoint in Nogales, Arizona.
Agents took a closer look at a tractor-trailer hauling produce from Mexico during a secondary inspection last Saturday. Another 2.2 pounds of fentanyl pills and a “large cache” of methamphetamine was also seized.
The driver, a Mexican national, was arrested by agents.
In recent years illicit fentanyl is blamed as the drug related to more overdoses in the US than any other compound. In powdered form, the painkiller is mixed with heroin for an extra kick. Alternatively is comes in the form of blue pills made to look like opioids prescribed by doctors.
(The Associated Press contributed to this report)
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