Mapped: Fentanyl Seized at U.S. Borders Over Time

Niccolo Conte
2025-03-18 10:47:00
www.visualcapitalist.com

Mapped: Fentanyl Seized at U.S. Borders Over Time

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Over the last 20 years, America’s opioid crisis has spiraled into an epidemic, and fentanyl is at the center of it.

Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that can be up to 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine. Recently, it has been in the news due to President Trump’s decision to impose tariffs on Mexico, Canada, and China, citing the need to curb fentanyl inflows (and illegal immigration) from these countries.

This infographic highlights how much fentanyl is being seized along the Northern and Southern U.S. borders, as well as coastal and interior ports of entry like airports and seaports.

The data comes from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection department, combining figures from the U.S. Border Patrol and Office of Field Operations along with Air and Marine Operations, with fiscal years (FY) from October to September.

How Much Fentanyl Comes From Canada and Mexico?

Since 2022, the majority of illegal fentanyl—over 90%—has been seized along the U.S.-Mexico border. By contrast, Canada’s border and the U.S.’s coastal and interior regions have seen significantly lower amounts.

Here’s a look at the data of total fentanyl seizures (in pounds) across U.S. borders from 2022 to January of 2025:

In 2023, more than 27,000 lbs of fentanyl were seized along the Mexican border, nearly double the amount caught in 2022. While these figures declined in 2024, fentanyl seizures from Mexico were still almost 10 times the amount seized at the Canadian border and across U.S. coastal or interior seizures combined.

As of 2025, U.S. border agencies have seized more than 6,000 lbs of fentanyl, nearly 92% of it along the Mexican border. According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, cartels primarily try to smuggle fentanyl via vehicles driven by U.S. citizens.

However, the rise in seizures suggests that U.S. border agencies are cracking down on smuggling operations, specifically from Mexico. On the other hand, it could also imply that traffickers are moving more fentanyl than ever before.

Fentanyl’s Impact on U.S. Foreign Policy

Beyond contributing to America’s opioid crisis, fentanyl is also influencing U.S. foreign policy.

The Trump administration’s latest tariffs are contingent on Canada, Mexico, and China taking strict action against the illegal supply of fentanyl and its precursors to the United States. Both Canada and China have responded in kind with retaliatory tariffs.

China is the world’s largest producer of fentanyl precursors, chemicals that are then supplied to cartels in Mexico, often via regular shipping routes that first pass through the United States.

There have also been suggestions of U.S. military action against cartels, with the Trump administration designating six Mexican cartels as Foreign Terrorist Organizations.

Learn More on the Voronoi App

See how the Trump administration’s tariffs could affect GDP and employment in this infographic by Statista on the Voronoi app.

The post Mapped: Fentanyl Seized at U.S. Borders Over Time appeared first on Visual Capitalist.

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