Congressional Affairs
Counterfeit Pills and Pill Press Equipment
This video highlights the alarming rise of counterfeit pills containing synthetic drugs like illicit fentanyl, methamphetamine and nitazenes. The DEA seizing over 134 million counterfeit pills between 2023 and 2024. These pills pose a significant risk given they may contain a potentially lethal dose. The proposal aims to regulate the manufacturing and distribution of pill press machines by requiring serialization, record-keeping, and reporting to the Attorney General, with penalties for non-compliance. This initiative is crucial in combating the production of deadly counterfeit pills and safeguarding public health.
DEA Administrator Cole's Statement on 26 Fugitives from Mexico taken into U.S. Custody
"This is a significant step in DEA’s ongoing effort to dismantle cartels designated as Foreign Terrorist Organizations. 26 fugitives, many associated with CJNG, Sinaloa, and Los Zetas are now in U.S. custody. Among them: Abigael "El Cuini" González Valencia, the brother-in-law of CJNG leader "El Mencho” and leader of Los Cuinis, an organization responsible for trafficking multiple tons of cocaine from South America through Mexico and into the United States. These arrests are the result of unrelenting investigative work by DEA and operational coordination between U.S. and Mexican law enforcement."
What Are Nitazenes?
Nitazenes are synthetic opioids similar to fentanyl but can match or surpass the potency of fentanyl. They were first developed in the 1950s for pharmaceutical research and were never approved for use in the United States or any other country. Many nitazenes are listed under Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) of the United States, and three – isotonitazene, metonitazene, and protonitazene – have also been placed under international control.
* 2 mg of fentanyl equates to a potentially deadly dose
DEA Fentanyl Seizures in 2025
In 2024, DEA seized more than 60 million fentanyl-laced fake pills and nearly 8,000 pounds of fentanyl powder. The 2024 seizures are equivalent to more than 380 million lethal doses of fentanyl.
The 2025 fentanyl seizures represent over 218 million deadly doses. *
updated: August 8, 2025
Due to an update in our data collection process the Fentanyl seizure data has been revised.
The 2025 fentanyl seizures represent over 218 million deadly doses. *
updated: August 8, 2025
Due to an update in our data collection process the Fentanyl seizure data has been revised.
Millions of Fentanyl Pills Seized
+ 11,038,126
Pounds of Fentanyl Powder Seized
+ lbs. 2,080
* 2 mg of fentanyl equates to a potentially deadly dose
Statements for the Record
February 1, 2023 - Statement of Associate Administrator Jon DeLena - Lives Worth Living: Addressing the Fentanyl Crisis, Protecting Critical Lifelines, and Combatting Discrimination Against Those with Disabilities
February 15, 2023 - Statement of Administrator Anne Milgram - Countering Illicit Fentanyl Trafficking
April 27, 2023 - Statement of Administrator Anne Milgram - Fiscal Year 2024 Request for the Drug Enforcement Administration
May 10, 2023 - Statement of Administrator Anne Milgram - A Review of the President’s Fiscal Year 2024 Funding Requests for the Federal Bureau of Investigation and for the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration
June 21, 2023 - Statement of Matthew J. Strait Deputy Assistant Administrator Diversion Control Division - Responding to America's Overdose Crisis: An Examination of Legislation to Build Upon the SUPPORT Act
July 12, 2023 - Statement of Kemp L. Chester Senior Advisor, Office of National Drug Control Policy Committee on Homeland Security - Leading the Strategic Response to Disrupt the Flow of Illicit Fentanyl Across Our Borders
July 27, 2023 - Statement of Administrator Anne Milgram - Drug Enforcement Administration Oversight
October 24, 2023 - Statement of William F. Kimbell Chief of Operations Drug Enforcement Administration - Hearing Entitled, “TBD”
March 20, 2024 - Testimony of James Dunlap Deputy Under Secretary for Analysis Office of Intelligence and Analysis U.S. Department of Homeland Security - Examining the Current Status of Iran’s Axis of Resistance and the Implications for Homeland Security and U.S. Interests
April 30, 2024 - Statement of William F. Kimbell Chief of Operations Drug Enforcement Administration - Hearing Entitled, “TBD”
May 7, 2024 - Statement of Administrator Anne Milgram - Fiscal Year 2025 Request for the Drug Enforcement Administration