After years of heartbreak and rising fatalities, Colorado has reached a long-awaited turning point in the fight against fentanyl. For the first time in more than a decade, we are seeing a meaningful decline in overdose deaths — not just in isolated communities, but across the state and the country. This progress is real. It\u2019s hopeful. And it\u2019s the direct result of coordinated efforts at every level of government.<\/p>\n
But now is not the time to let up. The fentanyl threat hasn\u2019t disappeared — it has evolved. And if we lose focus, the gains we\u2019ve made could quickly slip away.<\/p>\n
Data from the Centers for Disease Control\u2019s National Center for Health Statistics shows that overdose deaths nationwide dropped by almost 27% from 2023 to 2024. In Colorado, fatalities declined by 18%, falling from 1,998 to 1,637. Most notably, fentanyl-related deaths dropped 35% percent — from 1,238 to 804. These are the most encouraging numbers we\u2019ve seen since before the COVID-19 pandemic and might signal a long-overdue reversal of a devastating trend.<\/p>\n
This progress is thanks to the tireless work of public health professionals, community advocates and law enforcement \u2014 especially here in Colorado \u2014 who have made it their mission to save lives and hold traffickers accountable.<\/p>\n
At the federal level, law enforcement has made dismantling the fentanyl supply chain a top priority. In 2024, the DEA seized more than 60 million counterfeit pills and nearly 8,000 pounds of fentanyl powder nationwide — enough to deliver more than 380 million lethal doses. These seizures represent lives saved and underscore the scale of the crisis.<\/p>\n
The urgency continues in 2025. In just the first four months of this year, more than 22 million fentanyl-laced pills and 3,100 pounds of powder were seized nationwide \u2014 clear evidence of the threat\u2019s persistence and the relentless pace of interdiction work.<\/p>\n
In Colorado, the FBI\u2019s Denver Field Office is leading targeted enforcement efforts through specialized task forces that work closely with federal, state, local, and tribal partners. These teams are disrupting not only drug shipments but also the trafficking networks behind them.<\/p>\n
In recent months, joint operations resulted in the arrest of 43 traffickers and the seizure of more than 1,000 pounds of methamphetamine and 45 pounds of fentanyl from Colorado streets. In one case worked with the Jefferson County Sheriff\u2019s Office, deputies recovered 50,000 fentanyl pills from a single vehicle.<\/p>\n
These are not just statistics. They represent real threats removed from real neighborhoods. Every arrest and every seizure disrupts transnational criminal groups and reflects the strength of interagency collaboration.<\/p>\n
But the FBI\u2019s work goes beyond seizing drugs. We are also targeting the financial infrastructure that keeps these criminal organizations alive. By tracking illicit money flows and dismantling laundering networks, we\u2019re cutting off the cartels\u2019 ability to operate and grow.<\/p>\n
Recent federal policy directives are strengthening our ability to act. The designation of certain cartels as Foreign Terrorist Organizations has expanded enforcement tools and improved intelligence sharing. These changes are allowing us to move faster, collaborate more effectively, and strike at the heart of trafficking operations with greater precision.<\/p>\n
Still, law enforcement cannot do this alone. As we enter the summer months \u2014 when overdose rates often rise \u2014 we need communities, families and policymakers to stay engaged.<\/p>\n
That means parents having honest conversations with their kids. It means community groups continuing prevention and outreach. And it means elected leaders supporting strong enforcement, treatment and recovery programs.<\/p>\n
Colorado has shown what\u2019s possible when we work together. The success of our FBI-led task forces \u2014 powered by local, state, tribal and federal partnerships \u2014 proves that intelligence-driven, unified action saves lives.<\/p>\n
But the fentanyl threat remains. Traffickers adapt. So must we.<\/p>\n