U.S. Rep. Barry Moore (R-Enterprise) shared federal estimates about the fentanyl crisis on the southern border on Wednesday and said the amount of fentanyl seized had "jumped ninefold" since 2018.
Moore posted the statistics in a Twitter thread Wednesday morning. He said that federal officials estimate that they're only seizing as little as 5% of the fentanyl that's being trafficked over the U.S.-Mexico border.
"Since July, border seizures of fentanyl have averaged 2,200 pounds a month, meaning U.S. authorities are confiscating more fentanyl in a single month than they did during all of 2018," Moore wrote. "As a result of our open southern border, fentanyl is killing an estimated 196 Americans each day."
Moore blamed the Biden administration and other Democrats for failing to address border security and resisting Republican efforts to do so.
According to the Drug Enforcement Agency, synthetic opioids like fentanyl are being trafficked into the United States, often from foreign countries, and mixed into other drugs like heroin, methamphetamines and cocaine.
In October 2022, 1819 News investigated the prominence of opioid overdoses in Alabama. 1819 News found that opioid overdose deaths rose sharply in 2016, according to the Alabama Opioid Overdose and Addiction Council. The numbers trended downward for the next four years until sharply increasing again in 2020. Overdoses hit an all-time high in March 2021, reaching 474.
However, a more recent report by the Alabama Board of Medical Examiners claimed that physicians reduced the number of opioid prescriptions in the state by 41.6% from 2012 to 2021. The dosage strength of opioid prescriptions also fell 52.7%, but prescriptions of the opioid antagonist drug naloxone rose 851%.
According to a report specific to Jefferson County, preliminary evidence suggests at least 417 people died from overdoses in the county in 2022. At least 356 were due to opioids, most of which involved fentanyl.
Last year, a student passed away in the cafeteria of Selma High School. A toxicology report confirmed that he had hydrocodone and fentanyl in his system.
U.S. Rep. Jerry Carl (R-Mobile) also said he's worried about the southern border and the fentanyl issue during an interview with FM Talk 106.5. However, Carl said he's also concerned about the Northern border and that traffickers are carrying fentanyl over the Great Lakes.
U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Saks) cited different concerns. Texas law enforcement arrested an Iranian immigrant trying to cross the border last week. According to Fox News, the man turned out to be on the FBI's terror watch list.
"Terrorists are taking advantage of the wide-open southern border, and what concerns me are the ones we're not catching," Rogers said.
Rogers urged that the federal government finish building the southern border wall.
The Alabama delegation members' calls to address the southern border crisis come as the House Judiciary Committee holds its first immigration hearing.
Moore told Breitbart on Tuesday that he predicted the Judiciary Committee would send an immigration reform bill to the House.
To connect with the author of this story, or to comment, email will.blakely@1819news.com or find him on Twitter and Facebook.
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