Fentanyl Anologues Expires Next Month

(Farmington) The emergency prohibition of fentanyl analogues expires February 6th.

A news release from the Department of Justice says without action by Congress, law enforcement will not have the tools needed to protect Missouri families from the onslaught of these extraordinarily dangerous substances.

Illicit fentanyl and its analogues kill hundreds of Missourians annually.

Fentanyl is 80 times more powerful than heroin and only a few grains can cause a fatal overdose.

Distributors are now mixing fentanyl with other drugs which increases the risk for unsuspecting buyers and for overdose deaths.

Examples of the problem can be found constantly.

Within the last two weeks, police seized a shipment of 10 kilograms of fentanyl on I-44 in Saint Louis County.

That is roughly 22 pounds of poison capable of killing tens of thousands of Missourians.

The courier from Arizona was 18-years-old and now could face decades in prison.

Just this week, 25-year-old Shannon Bradley of Washington, Missouri, pled guilty for her role in the distribution of heroin and fentanyl that killed a 24-year old Washington, Missouri woman.

The Department of Justice says if Congress fails to act, police will lose an effective tool to protect Missouri families from the onslaught of these extraordinarily dangerous substances.