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Fentanyl

Last Updated: March 21, 2023 | Press Releases

DHS’s new Operation Blue Lotus has already stopped more than 900 pounds of fentanyl from entering the United States

DHS announced that Operation Blue Lotus, a new coordinated and surge operation targeting the smuggling of fentanyl, stopped more than 900 pounds of fentanyl from coming into the United States in its first week.

Last Updated: August 3, 2022 | Publication

Opioid Trafficking Intelligence and Investigation

The DHS Science and Technology Directorate's (S&T) Opioid Trafficking Intelligence and Investigation Project provides research and development (R&D) support for improved investigative capabilities to aid in the confident discovery, identification, and disruption of illicit drug networks responsible for opioid smuggling. The project will include training on investigative processes for law enforcement partners and advanced analytic approaches to facilitate analysis of evidence, data fusion, and information sharing that enables automated discovery of high value targets and criminal associations. Project outputs will be integrated into HSI's existing suite of investigative capabilities, to support
prosecution as well as collaboration efforts in furtherance of interdiction and disruption of the opioid supply chain.

Last Updated: August 3, 2022 | Publication

Field-Portable Fentanyl Detection Instruments and Assays

The DHS Science and Technology Directorate’s (S&T) Opioid/Fentanyl Detection Program, in collaboration with the S&T Office of Standards, is funding the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) to build spectral reference libraries of approximately 50 Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) restricted substances. including fentanyl, fentanyl analogues, and other emerging illicit drugs. Through Cooperative Research and Development Agreements (CRADAs) with industry partners, PNNL will collect reference spectra on 20 different field portable detectors currently deployed for operational use.

Last Updated: August 3, 2022 | Publication

Advanced Opioid Trafficking Analytics to Aid Investigations

The DHS Science and Technology Directorate’s (S&T) Opioid Program is working with HSI and Sandia National Laboratories (SNL) to develop novel software applications that can be integrated with HSI’s Repository for Analytics in a Virtualized Environment (RAVEN) platform. This cloud-based platform enables users to perform analytics across datasets using a suite of search, analytical, and reporting tools. RAVEN serves as a central point to gather and conduct analyses across seemingly disparate datasets, replacing a largely manual process. This collaborative effort will apply advanced analytical approaches, like artificial intelligence and machine learning, to better recognize patterns in data and enhance investigators’ effectiveness.

Last Updated: December 6, 2021 | Press Releases

News Release: DHS S&T Releases New Master Question List for Synthetic Opioids

DHS S&T has released a new Master Question List (MQL) for Synthetic Opioids.

Last Updated: December 6, 2021 | Blog

Asking the Right Questions About Synthetic Opioids

S&T's Master Question List for Synthetic Opioids consolidates information and knowledge gaps to better focus investments on the most useful R&D.

Last Updated: October 14, 2021 | Press Releases

Feature Article: New Fentanyl Detection Standards Protect First Responders

The newly published standards will be put into effect almost immediately through a S&T-led research and development effort with PNNL.

Last Updated: January 8, 2021 | Press Releases

News Release: S&T Seeks Industry Participation in Battle Against Opioids

DHS S&T is working with the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) on a multi-phase study to improve detection of synthetic opioids.

Last Updated: July 25, 2019 | Publication

S&T Bilayer Nanofibers as Wearable Sensors for Detecting Fentanyl Fact Sheet

DHS S&T partnered with Vaporsens to develop a wearable sensor for continuous personnel monitoring for exposure to fentanyl.

Last Updated: June 21, 2018 | Publication

Proceedings from the 2017 Fentanyl Working Meeting

DHS sponsored a two-day working meeting on September 6 and 7, 2017, entitled "Protecting First Responders on the Frontlines of the Fentanyl Epidemic." These proceedings summarize the key messages of the meeting and provide scientifically derived, evidence-based, and practitioner-informed recommendations. These will serve as a guide to inform strategy, policies and procedures to prevent and mitigate unintended fentanyl exposures across first responder occupations.