(WatchDogReport.org) – On February 8, the House Judiciary Committee held a hearing concerning how the Biden administration is managing immigration, the fentanyl crisis, and national security matters. Tucson Sector Chief Patrol Agent John Modlin revealed a startling fact: the amount of fentanyl seized at the border in his sector during 2022 — 700 pounds — was enough to kill half of the US population.
Representative Tim Burchett (R-TN) cited figures from the US Customs and Border Protection, which revealed that Border Patrol had intercepted nearly 9,400 pounds of fentanyl so far this fiscal year, using data that ended in December 2022. According to the New York Post, he claimed around 7,200 pounds of the drug was stopped at the southern border. Using Modlin’s calculations, the lawmaker determined that amount would be enough to “kill every American five times over,” should it have made its way into the US.
Enough Fentanyl to ‘kill every American five times over’ seized at the border https://t.co/0ZhrEweSCL pic.twitter.com/MTUn7RskTN
— New York Post (@nypost) February 8, 2023
The Post reported more of what Modlin had to say about the matter. He reportedly went on to note that smugglers are extremely creative with how they try to bring the potentially lethal drugs into the US. Modlin said among the seizures, agents have found fentanyl hidden in toys, food, tires, and within the body of vehicles.
According to the CDC, more than 150 people die every day from overdosing on drugs like fentanyl. Considering the user cannot see, taste, or smell the synthetic opioid, the health agency stated it’s impossible to tell if another drug is laced with the substance.
Rio Grande Valley Sector Chief Gloria Chavez also spoke at the congressional hearing. She said the biggest threat she sees in her sector is “liquid fentanyl.” According to the NYP, Modlin admitted the opioid continues to seep into the US, despite the rise in BP drug seizures.
Copyright 2023, WatchDogReport.org
