Colorado’s Fentanyl Crisis Spirals amid Cartel Expansion and Migrant Influx
Colorado is grappling with a surge in fentanyl seizures, a devastating development attributed to the expansion of drug cartels into new regions. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) reports record confiscations, with over 2.6 million fentanyl pills seized in the state in 2023. This year, the number is expected to surpass the previous record.
According to Dave Olesky, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the DEA’s Rocky Mountain Field Division, cartels are distributing larger volumes of fentanyl and are increasingly active in areas such as Montana, Washington, and Wyoming. Olesky notes that even local street gangs from Detroit and the East Coast are competing for territory in Montana due to the surge in drug prices.
In 2023, the DEA’s Colorado division broke its fentanyl seizure record. The DEA further warns that drug overdoses, primarily driven by fentanyl, have spiked from 8.2 per 100,000 people in 2000 to 32.6 per 100,000 in 2022.
Olesky highlights the role of Chinese criminal organizations in aiding cartels in producing fentanyl at low costs. He also emphasizes that the DEA is investigating these organizations. Despite efforts by border patrol agencies, authorities believe the migrant crisis at the southern border is contributing to the fentanyl surge in Colorado.
DEA officials stress the importance of educating the public about the dangers of fentanyl, particularly as it can be disguised and marketed to children. The agency warns that multicolored fentanyl pills pose a significant threat. Drug overdoses, largely driven by fentanyl, are the leading cause of death for adults aged 18 to 45, underscoring the urgency of addressing this public health crisis.
