Fentanyl: Situation Report 

SR-000001 

DATE: June 5, 2006 

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U.S. Department of Justice

National Drug Intelligence Center 

Overview – Clandestinely produced fentanyl has been linked to hundreds of fatal and nonfatal 

overdoses across the Midwest, Northeast, and Mid-Atlantic Regions of the United States since late 

2005. Fentanyl is a synthetic opiate approximately 50 times more potent than heroin. From 1990 

through 2005 at least nine clandestine fentanyl laboratories were seized in the United States; however, 

sensitive intelligence related to ongoing law enforcement operations indicates that Mexico likely is the 

source of at least some of the fentanyl associated with these recent overdoses. In May 2006 Mexican 

law enforcement authorities seized a fentanyl laboratory in Toluca, Mexico. In February 2006 U.S. 

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents seized a wholesale shipment of fentanyl powder just 

north of the U.S.–Mexico border. 

Availability – Clandestinely produced fentanyl powder, fentanyl mixed with heroin, and, to a lesser 

extent, fentanyl mixed with cocaine have been distributed in the Midwest, Northeast, and Mid-Atlantic 

Regions. The primary markets have included Chicago (IL), Detroit (MI), and Philadelphia 

(PA)/Camden (NJ). Overdoses linked to fentanyl have been reported in areas of Delaware, Illinois, 

Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. In many cases 

abusers had purchased the drugs in the primary market areas and transported them elsewhere. Because 

specialized forensic laboratory testing is required to detect clandestinely produced fentanyl versus 

pharmaceutical fentanyl, the extent of availability and source of the fentanyl has not yet been 

conclusively determined. 

Abuse – Fentanyl has been sold to drug abusers, primarily heroin abusers, in drug markets in each of 

the aforementioned areas, and abusers typically reflect the population demographics of those areas. 

Currently, there are an estimated 800,000 to 1,000,000 hard-core and casual heroin abusers in the 

United States who constitute the potential fentanyl market. An intravenous dose of fentanyl 

hydrochloride for pain relief is approximately 45 micrograms (a grain of salt is approximately 60 

micrograms); however, depending on the weight of the abuser and his or her level of opiate tolerance, 

an abuser may tolerate a higher or lower dose. Accordingly, a small error in diluting, or cutting, 

fentanyl can easily lead to an overdose. 

Because fentanyl is an opiate and specialized toxicological testing is required to detect fentanyl in 

biological samples, many fentanyl overdoses were initially classified as heroin overdoses. The severity 

of the situation did not become apparent until the public health community noticed the above-average 

number of overdoses. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is currently examining 

the number of fatalities that may have been directly related to clandestinely produced fentanyl. 
Fentanyl: Situation Report (SR-000001) June 5, 2006 

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Production – Intelligence indicates that Mexico is the most likely source of at least some of the 

fentanyl associated with the recent overdoses in the United States. On May 21, 2006, Mexican Federal 

Investigative Agency (AFI) agents and officials from the Mexican Attorney General’s Office 

Organized Crime Division (PGR/SIEDO) seized a fentanyl laboratory in Toluca, Mexico, and arrested 

the laboratory operator and four associates. However, at least nine clandestine fentanyl laboratories 

were seized in the United States—seven of which were in California—from 1990 through 2005. 

Continued fentanyl production in the United States cannot be ruled out. 

• November 22, 2005—Azusa, California 

• June 15, 2005—San Diego, California 

• May 4, 2004—Santa Clara, California 

• December 17, 2003— Newton Square, Pennsylvania 

• December 4, 2000—Big Bear, California 

• February 3, 1993—Goddard, Kansas 

• December 31, 1991—Fallbrook, California 

• August 15, 1990—San Jose, California. 

• April 14, 1990—Bonita, California 

The two methods most commonly used to produce fentanyl rely upon one of the two precursor 

chemicals—N-benzyl-4-piperidone or N-phenethyl-4-piperidone (NPP). NPP is used in the most 

common clandestine method. Dozens of scientific companies supply NPP legitimately. The Drug 

Enforcement Administration (DEA) is investigating the control of NPP. However, fentanyl producers 

can potentially manufacture the precursors or obtain them illicitly. 

Transportation – On February 27, 2006, CBP agents seized 2.6 pounds of 83-percent-pure fentanyl 

and 41 pounds of ice methamphetamine at a checkpoint along U.S. Highway 86 near Westmoreland, 

California, just north of the U.S.–Mexico border. The drugs were concealed beneath the floorboards in 

a passenger vehicle with Mexico license plates. 

Distribution – Fentanyl investigations are ongoing in all of the areas in which the overdoses have 

been occurring. Although limited, some information has been revealed regarding the distributors. 

• In the Philadelphia/Camden area, the distributors are Dominican and Puerto Rican criminals. 

• In May 2006, officers arrested a reputed member of the Latin Kings street gang in his Camden, 

New Jersey, home with over 1,300 bags of fentanyl-laced heroin and $5,200. 

• The first week of May 2006, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Philadelphia 

police arrested eight Hispanic drug distributors and seized 25,000 bags of fentanyl-tainted 

heroin in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 

• In the Chicago area, the distributors were reported to be West African, Mexican, or Colombian 

criminals. 
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Outlook – Some indicators point to decreased availability of clandestinely produced fentanyl in some 

of the primary market areas. For example, public health authorities in New Jersey are reporting an 

increase in methadone overdoses among heroin abusers; the heroin abusers report they are unable to 

obtain a sufficient supply of heroin and have begun abusing methadone. Additionally, the number of 

opiate overdoses had decreased in Wayne County (Detroit), Michigan, the last week of May/first week 

of June. Only three suspected opiate overdose deaths were reported from May 29 through June 2, 2006; 

earlier in May, more than four deaths per day occurred in Wayne County. Moreover, public health 

authorities in Maryland and Delaware reported no new fentanyl-related events the last week of May. 

However, during the first weekend of June 2006, approximately 20 suspicious heroin overdoses were 

reported in Pittsburgh (PA); testing has yet to conclusively link these overdoses to fentanyl. NDIC 

continues to monitor law enforcement and public health indicators for further developments in the 

fentanyl situation. 

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