How Much Fentanyl is Seized at U.S. Borders?
What We’re Showing
This infographic highlights the amount of fentanyl seized along U.S. borders in recent years, broken down by the northern land border (Canada), the southwest land border (Mexico), and coastal/interior points of entry.
The data comes from U.S. Customs and Border Protection and is measured in fiscal years (FY) from October to September.
What is Fentanyl?
Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid that is up to 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine. While it is legally prescribed for pain management, illegally manufactured fentanyl has fueled a rise in overdose deaths across the United States.
In fact, over 110,000 people died of drug overdoses in the U.S. in 2022, and around 70% of these deaths were caused by fentanyl and other opioids.
Key Takeaways
- Over 90% of all the seized fentanyl since 2022 has come from the Southwest (U.S.-Mexico) border.
- In 2024, over 21,000 lbs of the drug were seized along the U.S.-Mexico border, compared to just 1,448 lbs along the Canadian border.
- In 2024, 751 lbs of fentanyl were confiscated at coastal and interior entry points like airports, highway checkpoints, and seaports.
- As of FY 2025 (since October ‘24), the U.S. has seized over 6,000 lbs of fentanyl across all borders.
- Total fentanyl seizures have declined since peaking in 2023, though they remain historically high.
Context: The Politics Of Fentanyl
Fentanyl has become a major political issue in the United States, with lawmakers pushing for stronger border security and international cooperation to curb its flow.
President Donald Trump has imposed tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and China, citing the need to reduce illegal fentanyl inflows from these countries. For context, China is the largest producer of precursors that go into making fentanyl, hence the tariffs. As of March 4, 2025, Trump has implemented 25% tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico, along with 20% tariffs on Chinese imports.
Although drug overdose deaths in the U.S. have been declining since peaking in 2022, the opioid crisis continues, and fentanyl is at the center of it.