Norfolk CBP Officers Intercept Dangerous Fentanyl in Export Vehicle Container Destined to Sierra Leone

NORFOLK, Va. - U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers discovered dangerous fentanyl powder while inspecting vehicles in an export container in Norfolk, Va., on November 8.

The manifest listed three older Toyota sedans in the container, which was being shipped from Prince George's County, Maryland to Freetown, Sierra Leone. CBP officers conducted routine vehicle export examinations and discovered a white powdery substance comingled with personal effects and the vehicles.

CBP officers tested the substance using a handheld elemental isotope analysis tool and identified the substance as fentanyl hydrochloride.

CBP officers discovered this fentanyl in an export shipping container.

The fentanyl weighed 117.8 grams or a little more than four ounces.

Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid analgesic that the DEA reports is up to 100 times stronger than morphine and 50 times stronger than heroin. Pharmaceutical fentanyl is prescribed for pain management; however, illegally manufactured fentanyl consists of a variety of dangerous chemicals. Just two milligrams - the size of just a few grains of sand - may be a lethal dose.

CBP seized the fentanyl. An investigation continues.

"This seizure illustrates how quickly a routine examination can turn potentially deadly for Customs and Border Protection officers on our nation's frontlines," said Mark Laria, CBP's Area Port Director for the Area Port of Norfolk-Newport News. "This may be a small amount of fentanyl, but it doesn't take much of this very dangerous synthetic opioid to seriously injure or kill an unsuspecting CBP officer, seaport longshoreman, vessel seaman, or truck driver who may be accidentally exposed to it while just doing their jobs."

CBP is on our nation's frontline protecting the American people by combatting fentanyl and other synthetic opioids, precursors, and equipment to manufacture these dangerous drugs. Learn more at www.cbp.gov/fentanyl.

Every day, CBP officers and agents seized an average of 2,339 pounds of drugs, including 78 pounds of fentanyl, across the country last year. See CBP's enforcement stats to see what other dangerous drugs CBP is encountering at our nation's borders.

CBP's border security mission is led at our nation's Ports of Entry by CBP officers and agriculture specialists from the Office of Field Operations. CBP screens international travelers and cargo and searches for illicit narcotics, unreported currency, weapons, counterfeit consumer goods, prohibited agriculture, invasive weeds and pests, and other illicit products that could potentially harm the American public, U.S. businesses, and our nation's safety and economic vitality.

See what CBP accomplished during "A Typical Day" in 2023. Learn more at www.CBP.gov.

Follow the Director of CBP's Baltimore Field Office on Twitter at @DFOBaltimore for breaking news, current events, human interest stories and photos, and CBP's Office of Field Operations on Instagram at @cbpfieldops.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is America's frontline: the nation's largest law enforcement organization and the world's first unified border management agency. The 65,000+ men and women of CBP protect America on the ground, in the air, and on the seas. We facilitate safe, lawful travel and trade and ensure our country's economic prosperity. We enhance the nation's security through innovation, intelligence, collaboration, and trust.