How much fentanyl is seized at US borders each month?
Updated Apr. 27, 2026Refreshed monthly
About 613 pounds of fentanyl were seized at US borders in March 2026. Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid used medically as a pain reliever but is also trafficked illegally due to its potency. In 2024, the latest data available, fentanyl was involved in 60% of fatal accidental drug overdoses in the US.
According to the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), fentanyl is primarily manufactured abroad and smuggled into the US. When government agents intercept drugs such as fentanyl at the border, they arrest the traffickers and confiscate the drugs. This prevents the illegal distribution of these drugs within the country. Fentanyl seizures in March 2026 were down 57.3% from the previous month.
In March 2026
613
pounds of fentanyl was confiscated at US borders
In March 2026
57.3%
less fentanyl was confiscated at US borders than in February 2026
The amount of fentanyl seized at US borders can fluctuate based on changes in law enforcement strategies, trafficking routes, economic conditions, or supply and demand. The amount of fentanyl seized annually from 2019 to 2023 rose every year.
Between January and March 2026, authorities seized 2,900 pounds of fentanyl at US borders. That is 19% more than had been seized during the same period in 2025.
About 19% less fentanyl was seized by March 2026 than by March 2025.
Cumulative amount of fentanyl seized at US borders each month, by weight in pounds
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Fentanyl is part of a class of drugs referred to as opioids. While medical professionals prescribe synthetic opioids like oxycontin and fentanyl for pain relief, this drug class also includes illegal substances such as heroin. According to the DEA, fentanyl is roughly 50 times more potent than heroin and just 2 milligrams can cause a fatal overdose in the average American.
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Of the opioids trafficked into the US, the US Customs and Border Protection specifically reports fentanyl and heroin seizures. In 2019, fentanyl made up around 32.2% of opioid seizures, by weight. In 2025, they were 87.8% of seized opioids.
Around 9 times more fentanyl was seized at US borders than heroin in March 2026.
Monthly amount of fentanyl and heroin seized at US borders, by weight in pounds (January 2019–March 2026)
Where is fentanyl being seized?
US Customs and Border Protection agents confiscate fentanyl and other drugs both at official ports of entry like seaports, airports, and border checkpoints, and from people attempting to cross the border illegally between official ports. According to a 2023 report from the Department of Homeland Security, most fentanyl is primarily found and seized from vehicles driven by US citizens at official ports of entry. Between January and March 2026, 82.9% of all confiscated fentanyl was intercepted at these official entry points.
Fentanyl is primarily seized at official ports of entry, not illegal crossing routes.
Percentage of fentanyl seized at US borders, 2026 data represents January to March 2026
US Customs and Border Protection recognizes three regions where fentanyl crosses into the country. These regions are the northern border dividing the US and Canada, the southwest border dividing the US and Mexico, and coastal and interior ports of entry. The latter includes international airports like those in Chicago and seaports such as those in Miami.
Although there are legal ports of entry throughout the US, fentanyl is primarily trafficked across the southwest border, with 68% of it passing through official southwest ports of entry and 17% seized elsewhere along the southwest border.
In 2026, fentanyl was primarily seized at official ports of entry along the Southwest US border.
Amount of fentanyl seized by weight in pounds from January to March 2026
It's important to note that the data reported on drug seizures at US borders only reflects the quantities that US Customs and Border Protection has discovered. According to estimates by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the reported figures under-represent the drugs trafficked into the country.
In 2021, the DHS estimated that they intercepted around 3% of the cocaine — the only drug measured in the study — trafficked through official ports of entry. In contrast, DHS estimates that around 80% of people attempting to cross the border between ports of entry are intercepted, suggesting that the actual amount of fentanyl trafficked through unauthorized channels is also under counted, but to a lesser extent than through official ports. While these figures highlight data limitations, the information remains a valuable resource for understanding and addressing drug trafficking at US borders.
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USAFacts standardizes data, in areas such as time and demographics, to make it easier to understand and compare.
The analysis was generated with the help of AI and reviewed by USAFacts for accuracy.
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USAFacts endeavors to share the most up-to-date information available. We sourced the data on this page directly from government agencies; however, the intervals at which agencies publish updated data vary.
