The Brief: The Ongoing Threat of Fentanyl Smuggling
Cartels Are Adapting—But Their Motivation Stays the Same
From Alaskan glaciers and Washington forests to the rugged coastlines of Oregon and the wild rivers of Idaho, 15 million people live and work in the Pacific Northwest—one of the United States’ most naturally blessed regions.
But, as of September 2025, local, state, and federal law enforcement have seized over 21 million potentially fatal doses (pills and powder) of fentanyl in the region.

