'Fentanyl Crisis' continues to grow

Texas police agency leaders, along with the state’s highest elected official, are blaming Mexican smuggling for the growing fentanyl inundation of Texas – as well as the fatal aftermath that accompanies the deadly drug.

“Mexican drug cartels are smuggling fentanyl into our country any way they can,” Governor Greg Abbott said, adding that, “deadly fentanyl is flooding America, with enough seized lethal doses to kill almost every man, woman, and child in the nation.

“It is laced into every other street drug available, as well as being disguised as legal prescriptions…”

According to Abbott and state officials, the legislature increased penalties against fentanyl manufacturing and distribution last session, but the elected leaders are looking to increase penalties even further this upcoming legislative session “as a result of this growing crisis.”

DPS’ Houston crime lab has tested almost 13,700 pounds of counterfeit drugs in the past 12 months and inventoried more than 85,000 seized drugs, including more than 9,700 deadly opioids like fentanyl. In Texas, almost 1,700 fentanyl-related deaths were reported in 2021 alone.