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DEA 

Intelligence 

BRIEF

DEA-DCT-DIB-021-16

JULY 2016

Counterfeit Prescription Pills 

Containing Fentanyls: A Global 

Threat

This product was prepared by the DEA Strategic Intelligence Section. Comments and questions 

may be addressed to the Chief, Analysis and Production Section at dea.onsi@usdoj.gov.
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Executive Summary

Hundreds of thousands of counterfeit prescription pills, some containing deadly amounts of fentanylsa

have been introduced into U.S. drug markets, exacerbating the fentanyl and opioid crisis. The sudden 

arrival of wholesale amounts of counterfeit prescription drugs containing fentanyls will result in an 

increase in overdoses, deaths, and opiate-dependent individuals. Motivated by enormous profit potential, 

traffickers exploit high consumer demand for prescription medications by producing inexpensive, 

fraudulent prescription pills containing fentanyls. The equipment and materials necessary to produce 

these counterfeit drugs are widely available online for a small initial investment, greatly reducing the 

barrier of entry into production for small-scale drug trafficking organizations (DTOs) and individual players. 

In addition, small-scale fentanyl production laboratories have been identified in the United States and 

Canada, and fentanyl production and milling laboratories are believed to be operating in Mexico, indicating 

a vast expansion of the traditional illicit fentanyl market.

Details

Fentanyls in the United States

The United States is in the midst of a fentanyl crisis, with law enforcement reporting and public health 

data indicating higher availability of fentanyls, increased seizures of fentanyls, and more known overdose 

deaths from fentanyls than at any other time since the drugs were first created in 1959. From August 

2013 through the end of 2015, U.S. law enforcement agencies seized at least 239 kilograms of illicitly 

produced fentanyls. Although the total quantity of fentanyls seized may appear small relative to other 

illicit drugs, fentanyl is more lethal to potential users than other illicit drugs due to its extremely small lethal 

dose (approximately 2 milligrams). Between late 2013 and late 2014 alone, there were over 700 deaths 

related to fentanyl in the United States, and this figure is largely believed to be underestimated due to 

variations in state reporting techniques and deaths being attributed to heroin. In addition to being deadly 

to users, fentanyls pose a grave threat to law enforcement officials and first responders, as a lethal dose 

of fentanyl can be accidentally inhaled or absorbed through the skin.

Fentanyls are traditionally mixed into or sold as heroin, oftentimes without the customer’s knowledge. 

Since 2014, U.S. law enforcement agencies have been seizing a new form of fentanyl—counterfeit 

prescription opioid pills containing fentanyls. The counterfeit pills often closely resemble the authentic 

medications they were designed to mimic, and the presence of fentanyls is only detected upon laboratory 

analysis. 

The current fentanyl crisis is multi-faceted and involves a global supply of fentanyl and related materials. 

Counterfeit pills containing fentanyls are smuggled into the United States from Mexico and Canada (see 

Figure 1). Clandestine pill press operations also occur in the United States. Traffickers usually purchase 

powdered fentanyls and pill presses from China to create counterfeit pills to supply illicit U.S. drug 

markets. Under U.S. law, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) must be notified of the importation 

of a pill press. However, foreign pill press vendors often mislabel the equipment or send it disassembled 

to avoid law enforcement detection.

• March 2016 - The DEA Los Angeles Field Division (FD) executed a federal search warrant at a 

residential location and seized a counterfeit prescription pill operation using fentanyl and other 

synthetic opiates. Three pill presses, powder mixing equipment, ventilation equipment, and 

numerous buckets filled with powder were discovered (see Figure 2).

a When used in this publication, the term “fentanyls” includes fentanyl and related variants such as acetyl 

fentanyl, butyrfentanyl, and furanylfentanyl. Due to variations in the legal and scientific definitions of analogs, 

it may be inaccurate to call all fentanyl varieties a fentanyl analog.
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• January 2016 - The DEA New Jersey FD arrested a counterfeit prescription pill producer after 

making undercover purchases of approximately 6,000 pills. The pills were manufactured to look 

like 30 milligram oxycodone pills, but contained either fentanyl citrate or acetyl fentanyl and were 

produced domestically in the trafficker’s New York residence..

• From early 2014 through late 2015 the DEA New England Field Division seized approximately 

7,000 counterfeit 30 milligrams oxycodone pills from a DTO. Laboratory analysis indicated that the 

pills did not contain oxycodone, but rather fentanyl or combinations of fentanyl or heroin.

• May 2015 - The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation issued a public warning concerning the 

presence of counterfeit fentanyl pills on the market. A law enforcement officer seized several pills 

that appeared to be 30 milligram oxycodone tablets; however, laboratory analysis indicated that the 

pills instead contained fentanyl (see Figure 3). 

Source: DEA 

*Arrows do not represent specific transportation routes.

Figure 1: Illicit Fentanyl and Fentanyl Precursor Flow Originating in China
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The 2006 fentanyl crisis in the United States was the result of fentanyl being mixed into heroin and 

distributed to unsuspecting heroin users. During the current fentanyl crisis (2013-present), traffickers 

have not only used similar historical production and distribution techniques, but have also expanded 

the fentanyl market by producing wholesale quantities of counterfeit prescription medications containing 

various fentanyls. Fentanyls are no longer only mixed into the heroin supply, but take on new shapes in 

order to be desirable for a different subset of opioid users. Another distinction between the 2006 outbreak 

and the current fentanyl crisis is the complex global reach. The 2006 fentanyl crisis was fueled by a single 

clandestine laboratory in Toluca, Mexico, and once the laboratory was seized, the seizures of fentanyl 

and overdose deaths in the United States suddenly tapered off. The current fentanyl crisis is fueled 

by China-sourced fentanyls and fentanyl precursor chemicals that are being sold to various individuals 

and organizations responsible for fentanyl processing and distribution operations; this scenario includes 

individuals linked to Mexican cartels and other criminal organizations that are not affiliated with Mexican 

cartels. The seizures of fentanyl-laced pills and clandestine pill press operations all across North America 

indicate that this is becoming a trend, not a series of isolated incidents.

Fentanyl traffickers have been successful at expanding the fentanyl market and introducing new fentanyllaced drug products to the U.S. drug market. The DEA National Forensic Laboratory Information System 

(NFLIS)b reported that there were 13,002 fentanyl exhibits tested by forensic laboratories across the 

country in 2015 (the latest year for which data is available), which is a 65 percent increase from the 7,864 

fentanyl exhibits in 2014 (see Figure 4). There were approximately eight times as many fentanyl exhibits 

in 2015 as there were during the 2006 fentanyl crisis, clearly demonstrating the unprecedented threat and 

expansion of the fentanyl market. 

b The NFLIS is a DEA program that systematically collects results from drug chemistry analyses conducted by 

state, local, and federal forensic laboratories across the country. During analyses of the exhibits, laboratories 

may identify several distinct drug reports within an exhibit; therefore, an exhibit reported to NFLIS may 

include up to three drug reports. Drug evidence that is secured by law enforcement officials but not analyzed 

by participating laboratories is not included in the NFLIS system.

Figure 2: Pill Presses Used to Manufacture 

Counterfeit Prescription Pills in Los Angeles. Figure 3: Counterfeit 30 Milligram Oxycodone 

Pills Containing Fentanyl.

Source: DEA Source: Tennessee Bureau of Investigation 
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The 2014 National Survey on Drug Use and Health estimated that there were 4.3 million nonmedical 

users of pain relievers in the United States in 2014; a population second only in size to marijuana users. 

High demand for authentic prescription drugs strongly incentivizes traffickers to produce counterfeit pills 

containing fentanyls to increase their revenues and meet market demand for these products.

The rise of counterfeit pills that contain fentanyls in the illicit drug market will likely result in more opioiddependent individuals, overdoses, and deaths. There were over 700 fentanyl-related deaths reported 

in the United States between late 2013 and 2014. During 2013-2014, the Centers for Disease Control 

and Prevention (CDC) reported that deaths from synthetic opioids increased 79 percent, from 3,097 to 

5,544. Although the synthetic opioid category does contain other opioids, this sharp increase coincides 

with a sharp increase in fentanyl availability, and the CDC reports that a substantial portion of the increase 

appears to be related to illicit fentanyls.

Expansion of the counterfeit pill market, to include pills containing fentanyls, threatens to circumvent 

efforts by law enforcement and public health officials to reduce the abuse of opioid medications. Efforts 

to reduce the amount of opioid pills available on the market for abuse include DEA’s National Take-Back 

Initiative, and education for doctors on the dangers of opioid medications. The arrival of large amounts 

of counterfeit prescription drugs containing fentanyls on the market threatens to devalue such initiatives 

and replaces opioid medications taken off of the street. Although not all controlled prescription drug 

users eventually switch to heroin, fentanyl-laced pills give DTOs broader access to the large controlled 

prescription drug user population, which is reliant upon diversion of legitimate pills. This could undermine 

positive results from the state Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs, as well as from legislative and law 

enforcement programs.

Figure 4: Number of Fentanyl Exhibits in NFLIS, 2004-2015

Source: DEA 
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The success traffickers have experienced with secreting fentanyls in counterfeit opioid medications will 

likely result in the emergence of fentanyls in a variety of other counterfeit prescription drugs. Between 

January and March 2016, nine people died from counterfeit Xanax® pills containing fentanyl in Pinellas 

County, Florida. In March and April 2016, 52 overdoses and 10 deaths occurred in Sacramento, California 

from counterfeit Norco® pills containing fentanyl. University of Calfornia Davis laboratory analysis 

indicated that the pills contained a variety of fentanyl doses; one sample of pills contained between 0.6 

and 6.9 milligrams of fentanyl per pill (2 milligrams of fentanyl is a lethal dose for non-opioid users). 

Such wide disparity in dosing reveals that the producers were likely new to incorporating fentanyl in pill 

production, as the fentanyl was not thoroughly mixed with the other powders before binding and pressing 

into pills. Although Norco® is an opioid like fentanyl, Xanax® is a benzodiazepine.c This demonstrates that 

though traffickers are interested in expanding the fentanyl market to other counterfeit opioid medications, 

they are also willing to utilize fentanyls in other non-opiate drugs with exploitable user populations.

Research Chemical U-47700 in Counterfeit Oxycondone Pills

In March 2016, law enforcement officers in Lorain County, Ohio, seized 500 pills that visually 

appeared to be oxycodone. The pills were blue and had “A 215” markings, consistent with 

30 milligram oxycodone pills (see Figure 5). Laboratory analysis indicated that the pills 

did not contain oxycodone, but were instead the research chemical U-47700.19 U-47700 

is an unscheduled synthetic opioid not studied for human use that has caused at least 17 

overdoses and several deaths in the United States. Although counterfeit opioid pill traffickers 

currently use fentanyls, it is likely that other synthetic opioids will be utilized if fentanyls 

become inaccessible, or if market preferences shift to other subtances. 

c Opioids target completely different receptors than benzodiazepines. Opioids are primarily used to treat pain, 

whereas benzodiazepines are used to treat anxiety.

Figure 5: Counterfeit Oxycodone Pills 

Containing U-47700.

Source: Lorain County, Ohio, Sheriff’s Office
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Fentanyls in Canada

Canada has seen a sharp increase in overdoses and deaths resulting from the use of fentanyls since 

2012, when the Government of Canada removed the prescription opioid OxyContin® from the legitimate 

market. Between 2009 and 2014, there were at least 1,019 fentanyl-related drug poisoning deaths in 

Canada, with more than half occurring during 2013 and 2014. Canadian officials advise that this is likely 

an underestimate. 

In Canada, fentanyls are mixed with or disguised as heroin and pressed into counterfeit prescription pills. 

Traffickers import fentanyls into Canada directly from China; however, Canadian officials have also seized 

fully functional fentanyl synthesis and pill-producing clandestine laboratories. While pill presses and 

tableting machines are not currently regulated by Canada’s federal government, the Province of Alberta 

recently passed legislation, which will implement regulation of these devices effective January 1, 2017. In 

addition, efforts are underway to draft similar legislation for at least one more Canadian province.

Fentanyls in Mexico

Mexico often serves as a transshipment point for fentanyls shipped from China. Mexican traffickers 

prepare the fentanyls to be mixed with heroin destined for the United States, or press the fentanyls 

into counterfeit prescription pills before the drugs are smuggled into the United States. In addition 

to purchasing fentanyls directly from China, it is likely there are also clandestine fentanyl synthesis 

laboratories in Mexico. The immediate precursor to fentanyl, N-phenyl-1-(2-phenylethyl) piperidin-4-

amine (ANPP), has been seized at the U.S.–Mexico border, indicating that traffickers are producing 

fentanyl or attempting to stockpile precursors in advance of a future shortage in Chinese supply.

Fentanyls in China

China is the primary source of supply for fentanyls and fentanyl precursors destined for the United 

States, Canada, and Mexico. According to the Chinese Anti-Smuggling Bureau, China does not have a 

fentanyl consumption problem; therefore, fentanyls illicitly produced in China are most likely intended for 

export to the Americas. Customers can purchase fentanyl products from Chinese laboratories online, by 

travelling to China and purchasing in person, or through a chemical broker. DEA reporting indicates that 

many Chinese laboratories illicitly manufacturing synthetic drugs, such as fentanyls and their precursors, 

also manufacture legitimate chemicals for purchase by U.S. companies. This means that laboratories 

responsible for supplying the fentanyls in counterfeit pills can also run legitimate businesses. Although 

Chinese clandestine laboratories may be contributing to the fentanyl supply, legitimate laboratories may 

also be sources of supply.

In addition to supplying fentanyls and fentanyl precursor chemicals, Chinese laboratory companies also 

provide industrial pill presses used in tableting fentanyls intended for American, Canadian, and Mexican 

purchasers. There are no laws in China regulating the production or sale of pill presses, making them 

easily accessible to drug traffickers.

Traffickers often use freight forwarders to mail fentanyls from China. Several DEA investigations have 

revealed that the original supplier will provide the package to a freight forwarding company or individual, 

who transfers it to another freight forwarder, who then takes custody and presents the package to 

Chinese Scheduling of Popular Fentanyls

In October 2015, China introduced new controls on 116 drugs or chemical compounds, 

to include several different fentanyls. This scheduling action may reduce the availability 

of those fentanyls; however, in December 2015, one China-based chemicals supplier 

offered a Florida-based fentanyl purchaser a new version of the drug to circumvent the 

scheduling...China controls 19 fentanyl compounds, including fentanyl.
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customs for export.35 The combination of a chain of freight forwarders and multiple transferals of custody 

makes it difficult for law enforcement to track these packages. Often, the package will intentionally have 

missing, incomplete, and inaccurate information. 

• May 2015 - Chinese Customs officials seized 46 kilograms of fentanyl and 26 kilograms of acetyl 

fentanyl hidden in a cargo container destined for Mexico. Six customs officials became ill and one 

fell into a coma as a result of handling the fentanyls. The fentanyls had been transferred through 

five different freight forwarders before arriving 

at customs.

• March 2016 - Over the course of several 

months, DEA and Homeland Security 

Investigations offices in the southeastern 

United States seized multiple shipments from 

China containing mislabeled pill presses, 

fentanyl, acetylfentanyl, and butyrylfentanyl.

Fentanyl Profits

The profitability of fentanyls provides a strong motive 

for traffickers to produce counterfeit prescription pills 

to expand the current user base. Traffickers can 

typically purchase a kilogram of fentanyl powder 

for a few thousand dollars from a Chinese supplier, 

transform it into hundreds of thousands of pills, and 

sell the counterfeit pills for millions of dollars in profit. 

If a particular batch has 1.5 milligrams of fentanyl per 

pill, approximately 666,666 counterfeit pills can be 

manufactured from 1 kilogram of pure fentanyl.

According to DEA reporting, counterfeit pills containing 

fentanyls retail at prices between $10 and $20 USC 

per pill in U.S. illicit drug markets. In February 2016, a 

DEA source in the Miami FD reported that counterfeit 

Roxycodone pills containing fentanyl were sold at $20 

USC each. In December 2015, a DEA source in the 

New Jersey FD reported that counterfeit prescription 

pills containing fentanyl can be bought in bulk quantities 

at $6.50 USC per pill and sold for $10 USC per pill 

in the New York City club scene. At these prices, a 

kilogram of fentanyl used to manufacture counterfeit 

pills could generate between $5 and $20 million in retail 

sales, depending on the purity of the fentanyl and the 

dosage 

(see Figure 13).

• In 2014 and 2015, a China-based chemical 

distributor sold fentanyl to purchasers in the 

United States for $3,500 USC per kilogram. 

• In 2016, DEA Miami Field Division reporting 

indicated a kikogram of acetyl fentanyl could be 

purchased in Florida for $1700, sourced from 

China. 

Source: DEA 

Figure 11: Synthetic Drug Factory in China.

Figure 12: Synthetic Drug Factory in China.
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There is not an industry standard as to how much fentanyl is in the counterfeit pills, and the dosage varies 

between vendors and batches. One 2016 seizure of counterfeit prescription pills had approximately 1.8 

milligrams of fentanyl in each pill. Such a large amount of fentanyl in each pill is alarming considering that 

approximately 2 milligrams is a lethal dose for most non-opioid-dependent individuals. Drug users have 

discussed only consuming partial amounts of a counterfeit pill containing fentanyl in online forums, and 

one user stated he began vomiting after taking one-quarter of a pill. 

Fentanyls and the Internet 

The tools needed to manufacture counterfeit pills containing fentanyls are available online and are 

relatively inexpensive compared to other forms of drug production, contributing to its unique level of threat. 

Such access paves the way for non-cartel-affiliated individuals to undertake fentanyl trafficking. Fentanyls 

are available for purchase online from anonymous darknet marketsd and even overtly-operated websites. 

Industrial pill press machines are also widely available on the open Internet. An April 2016 online search 

of auction websites by DEA revealed a wide variety of pill presses for sale. One pill press capable of 

producing 5,000 pills per hour was priced at $995, and die molds for oxycodone and Xanax® pills were for 

sale at $115 and $130, respectively.

Outlook

The availability of counterfeit prescription drugs containing fentanyls will continue to grow in the near term. 

The relative ease and low cost associated with obtaining the drugs and equipment needed to manufacture 

counterfeit pills containing fentanyls will encourage individuals, as well as large and small DTOs, to move 

in this direction. Additionally, non-cartel-affiliated individuals may undertake production of counterfeit 

pills. Fentanyls will continue to appear in counterfeit opioid medications and will likely appear in a variety 

of non-opiate drugs as traffickers seek to expand the market in search of higher profits. Overdoses and 

deaths from counterfeit drugs containing fentanyls will increase as users continue to inaccurately dose 

themselves with imitation medications.

d A darknet market is a website hidden on the dark web, accessible only through special browsers such as The 

Onion Router (TOR). Darknet markets function primarily as black markets, selling drugs, counterfeit currency, 

and other illicit goods.

Figure 13. Potential Revenue Generated from Fentanyl Pill Sales 

Using 1 Kilogram of Fentanyl (in USC)

Amount of 

Fentanyl 

Per Pill

Price Per Pill Price Per Pill Price Per Pill

$10 $15 $20

1.5 milligrams 

(666,666 pills) $6.6 million $9.9 million $13.3 million

1 milligram 

(1 million pills) $10 million $15 million $20 million

Source: DEA