‘A national emergency’: 1.8 million counterfeit pills seized, flood of fake meds driving record overdose deaths
Overdose deaths hit record number in US in 2020 amid pandemic
In color, size and markings, the pills are made to appear like prescribed medication and have poured into the U.S. from makeshift operations in Mexico. The chemical components used in the assembly have been traced to China.
Based on the size of the recent seizure, officials said the pills could have contributed to the overdose deaths of 700,000 people.
The number of fake pills containing deadly fentanyl has jumped nearly 430% since 2019, officials said.
DEA issues rare warning on counterfeit pills containing ‘lethal doses’ of fentanyl