ICYMI: Sen. Markey Introduces Bill To Enhance Fentanyl Technology At The Border

WATERTOWN, MA – Sen. Ed Markey introduced a bill at a press conference in Watertown Tuesday to give border patrol agents enhanced technology to identify and seize illegal fentanyl before it enters the country. The INTERDICT Act, filed with Sen. Marco Rubio, of Florida, would provide Customs and Border Protection agents with tools such as chemical screening devices to help detect fentanyl and other synthetic opioids.

"Illicit fentanyl being trafficked into the United States is an immediate and grave threat to the American people," Markey said in a statement. "Customs and Border Protection is a critical line of defense in the battle to stop fentanyl from flooding our communities, and we need to give it the latest technological tools to detect and intercept this deadly drug."

Of the 1,899 opioid-related deaths in Massachusetts last year where a toxicology screen was available, 69 percent tested positive for fentanyl, according to the Department of Public Health.

According to Markey's office, Mexico is the primary source for illegal fentanyl trafficked into the United States, while China serves as the primary source of the chemicals used in manufacturing. The drug is often transported into the country through the mail and express consignment carriers. In 2016, Customs seized close to 200 pounds of fentanyl and other synthetic opioids, 25 times what was seized the previous year.

The majority of those busts occurred along the southwest border, according to a press release.

Watertown Police Chief Michael Lawn, Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan and other law enforcement officials were on hand Tuesday at a press conference introducing new technology to fight the opioid crisis.

Top Image: A TruNarc device used by the Watertown Police Department, via WPD Facebook

Story originally published May 30.