US Attorney General Pamela Bondi, on Wednesday, said the federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has been working since the first of the year to get illegal drugs off the streets and protect innocent Americans from addiction, overdose, and drug-related crime and violence. Part of that effort resulted in the confiscation of drugs locally. More than 107,000 people lost their lives to a drug overdose in 2023, with nearly 70 percent of those deaths attributed to opioids such as fentanyl, according to the CDC.

In Lexington County, the DEA, in coordination with state and local law enforcement agencies, seized over 156 pounds of fentanyl and 44 pounds of methamphetamine, a firearm and arrested one trafficker.

In the last six months, Fentanyl deaths in the US have declined by 15 percent or more.

According to the DOJ’s announcement: Since January 20, 2025, DEA has seized approximately 44 million fentanyl pills, 4,500 pounds of fentanyl powder, nearly 65,000 pounds of methamphetamine, more than 201,500 pounds of cocaine, and made over 2,105 fentanyl-related arrests.

“Our DEA agents are doing historic work to keep our communities safe from deadly drugs like fentanyl and dismantle the cartels selling them,” said Bondi. “I want to remind all Americans to exercise extreme caution: a pill can kill.”

“DEA is hitting the cartels where it hurts—with arrests, with seizures, and with relentless pressure.”