Credit: Commonwealth Media Services
In a blow to the illicit drug trade, Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday announced Tuesday that his office has seized more than 50 million doses of fentanyl statewide through September.
The state’s top law enforcement official said the amount marks a record that surpasses 2024’s total.
The seizures were conducted by the Pennsylvania Attorney General Office’s Bureau of Narcotics Investigation and with local, state and federal law enforcement, include nearly 27 million doses recovered in the greater Philadelphia region, including in Bucks County.
Sunday made the announcement Wednesday during a press conference in Philadelphia alongside law enforcement officials from across the region. The press conference featured police officials from Bucks County.
“We are not claiming victory with this record number of fentanyl seizures – we are sending a message to the predatory dealers perpetrating this flow of deadly fentanyl into our communities,” Sunday said. “That message is: your days are numbered.”
Sunday said each dose could potentially be lethal as he displayed a small packet weighing 2 milligrams as an example of a potentially fatal amount.
“This is literally the size of a potential lethal dose of fentanyl,” Sunday said of the small packet. “This is all it takes to end a life, to end the hopes and dreams of a human being, to absolutely devastate a family and circle of friends, causing lifelong pain and suffering.”
Philadelphia Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel praised the collaborative effort between agencies.
The top officer from the city told journalists that coordination has reached unprecedented levels during his 39-year career. He added that fentanyl takes a toll communities regardless of geographic or economic boundaries.
“This is not a neighborhood problem, ladies and gentlemen,” Bethel said. “It’s not a Kensington problem, even though we were attacking Kensington last week. Or is it a city problem? This is a Commonwealth problem. It’s an American problem.”
The seizures include more than 100,000 grams of fentanyl, equivalent to more than 220 pounds, along with more than 76,000 fentanyl pills that are often disguised to look like common prescription medications such as oxycodone.
Law enforcement officials noted that many seizures also included firearms, highlighting the connection between drug trafficking and violent crime.
Adam Geer, chief public safety director for the Philadelphia Office of Public Safety, stressed the life-saving impact of the seizures.
“Every single one of those 50 million doses that was intercepted is a potential death sentence that was intercepted,” Geer said.
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Delaware County District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer spoke of the collaborative nature of the effort. He noted that the fentanyl crisis represents “literally the worst narcotics epidemic this country has ever faced,” with upwards of 70,000 people dying annually from fentanyl overdoses.
“There is no glory anymore in selling poison,” Stollsteimer said, addressing those involved in trafficking. “We are coming for you. If you’re selling this, you’ve got to stop.”
Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin Steele reported that his county saw a 27 percent decrease in overdose deaths last year.
Steele, however, cautioned against celebrating while people continue to die from overdoses.
“That’s not something to do a victory lap on, because there’s still a lot of people that are dying, and we have to keep our foot on the gas with this and with these partnerships,” Steele said.
The attorney general’s office showcased an investigation from May when law enforcement seized more than 41 pounds of fentanyl in North Philadelphia, worth more than $6 million and representing over 400,000 doses. Officials determined that 200,000 of those doses were destined for Pittsburgh and has ties to Bucks, Montgomery, and Chester counties.
Sunday said that the fight against fentanyl requires addressing both supply and demand, noting his office’s commitment to treatment and recovery programs alongside enforcement efforts.
“If there’s anyone watching this today that’s in the throes of addiction, that’s suffering and thinking, ‘God, can I ever get out of this?’ I will tell you that throughout my career and in my personal life, I have seen people get treatment,” Sunday said. “Recovery is a reality.”
Abington Township Police Chief Patrick Malloy, who was representing suburban law enforcement agencies, praised the coordination between Philadelphia and surrounding communities. He noted that suburban departments benefit significantly from partnerships with larger agencies and federal resources.
The ongoing nature of the effort, stating that the 50 million doses represent “only a start” in the fight against fentanyl trafficking, Sunday said, adding he was committed to continuing enforcement while supporting treatment and recovery programs.
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