$1.7 Million Fentanyl Shipment Seized at Philadelphia Port
Federal authorities seized a shipment of fentanyl shipped to Philadelphia port from China.
According to Fox 10, The U.S. Customs and Border patrol got a hold of 110 pounds of the dealy opioid after a routine check at the Area Port of Philadelphia. A drug-detecting K9 alerted the officers to the fentanyl inside barrels of iron oxide.
Officers discovered 50 packages that contained sealed bags of the fentanyl. The estimated street value of the 110 pounds of fentanyl was $1.7 million.
According to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is approved by the Food and Drug Administration for use as an anesthetic and analgesic (pain relief). It is about 100 times more potent than morphine and 50 times more potent than heroin as an analgesic.
Abusing fentanyl results in symptoms including confusion, slowed heart rate, shaking, muscle stiffness, and difficulty walking. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that opioids, including prescription opioids such as fentanyl, has killed over 42,000 people, and 40% of opioid overdose deaths involve a prescription opioid.
