Nearly 2-million fentanyl pills with a street value of $20-million dollars have been seized in San Diego Count in the past 18-months, reports the San Diego County Sheriff's Office.
Hundreds of pounds of methamphetamine, and heroin were also confiscated. At a news conference on Monday, officials also passed along some good news. Deaths from Fentanyl across San Diego County are down nearly 30% from one year ago.
The Board of Supervisors allocated a half million dollars last year for fentanyl investigations by the sheriff's office, and more federal money has also been pouring in to try and get the deadly street drug out of local neighborhoods.
Based on available information, the number of fentanyl-related deaths in San Diego County has varied in recent years. The most recent numbers indicate an average of 800 to one thousand deaths a year are reported, but that number is likely considerably higher.
Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that's dramatically stronger than other opioids, including heroin and morphine. A tiny amount, as little as 2 milligrams (equivalent to a few grains of sand), can be lethal.