INSIDER
Fentanyl dealer in Humble tracked down by ankle monitor, last text from victim who died from overdose
Read full article: Fentanyl dealer in Humble tracked down by ankle monitor, last text from victim who died from overdoseCourt documents said the victim, who died from a fentanyl overdose, last texted Cole Millsap, 22, about the drug deal and saved his contact info as "COLE WORLD." The ankle monitor's GPS also matched where the deal took place.
Anti-Fentanyl vaccine one step closer to providing hope
Read full article: Anti-Fentanyl vaccine one step closer to providing hopeThe first-of-its-kind anti-fentanyl vaccine is one step closer to saving lives. This is a story our Zach Lashway broke in 2022. Doctor Colin Haile, an associate professor at University of Houston confirmed the shot is headed to clinical trials in early 2025.
Fentanyl dealers charged for smuggling drugs in tire wheel to take them from Houston to Laredo
Read full article: Fentanyl dealers charged for smuggling drugs in tire wheel to take them from Houston to LaredoCourt records showed two dealers met up in Laredo to sell fentanyl, and the next day were caught trying to hide the drugs inside a tire wheel.
Life-saving tool: Many Texas schools required to have Narcan
Read full article: Life-saving tool: Many Texas schools required to have NarcanIt’s the drug that could save your child’s life – Narcan. Texas law requires many public schools (with students 6 through 12) to have Naloxone (or Narcan) on campus. This went into effect at the start of the 2023 school year. KPRC 2′s Zach Lashway is checking back with school districts in our area about Narcan protocols.
‘Deadliest drug threat US has ever faced’: Man charged with importing 2,000 kilos of chemicals to make fentanyl pills
Read full article: ‘Deadliest drug threat US has ever faced’: Man charged with importing 2,000 kilos of chemicals to make fentanyl pillsU.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani will join Special Agents in Charge Daniel Comeaux and Craig Larrabee of the Drug Enforcement Administration and Homeland Security Investigations, respectively, to announce a significant arrest related to a record seizure.
‘Game changer’: Vaccine developed at University of Houston to end fentanyl overdoses headed for human clinical trials
Read full article: ‘Game changer’: Vaccine developed at University of Houston to end fentanyl overdoses headed for human clinical trialsA vaccine that was developed at the University of Houston to prevent fentanyl deaths has been licensed by a new medical startup and will head for human clinical trials, according the the university.
Pop-Off Politics: How $66M in city upgrades and the Fentanyl fight impact you
Read full article: Pop-Off Politics: How $66M in city upgrades and the Fentanyl fight impact youEver wondered why we focus on local politics every Tuesday? Find out how Houston is investing over $54 million in chlorine to keep our drinking water safe and putting $930,000 into tackling the fentanyl crisis.
Woman accused of giving man drugs which led to his 2023 overdose death in Montgomery County
Read full article: Woman accused of giving man drugs which led to his 2023 overdose death in Montgomery CountyA woman has been arrested, accused of giving a man drugs which led to his death by an overdose in Montgomery County.
Fentanyl dealer from Crosby arrested after 2 people were killed by drugs he distributed
Read full article: Fentanyl dealer from Crosby arrested after 2 people were killed by drugs he distributedThe U.S. Attorney's Office says a fentanyl dealer from Crosby has been taken into custody and indicted after two people he sold drugs to died.
Following death of Houston-area teen, two men charged under Texas’ new fentanyl law
Read full article: Following death of Houston-area teen, two men charged under Texas’ new fentanyl lawCourt records indicate Cortez thought he was taking Percocet, but an autopsy showed he died from a fentanyl overdose.
Ex-Philippine leader Duterte assails Marcos, accusing him of plotting to expand his grip on power
Read full article: Ex-Philippine leader Duterte assails Marcos, accusing him of plotting to expand his grip on powerFormer Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte is throwing allegations at his successor, Ferdinand Marcos Jr., and even raising the prospect of removing him from office.
Even Narcan can’t save victims: What you should know about growing threat of ‘zombie drug’
Read full article: Even Narcan can’t save victims: What you should know about growing threat of ‘zombie drug’The United States Drug Enforcement Administration released a public safety alert to warn Americans of a growing threat of a deadly drug called Xylazine, a combination of fentanyl mixed with xylazine.
Houston Methodist nurse accused of stealing drugs including Fentanyl, swapping vials and syringes with saline
Read full article: Houston Methodist nurse accused of stealing drugs including Fentanyl, swapping vials and syringes with salineWhen the 25-year-old nurse was asked why she took the medication, she responded, “I hear voices telling me to do it.” And this is not her first time doing the exact same thing.
Mexico raids and closes 31 pharmacies in Ensenada that were selling fentanyl-laced pills
Read full article: Mexico raids and closes 31 pharmacies in Ensenada that were selling fentanyl-laced pillsMexican authorities have raided and closed 31 drug stores in the Baja California coastal city of Ensenada, after they were detected selling false or fentanyl-laced pills.
In Mexico, Yellen announces economics sanctions as the US aims to crack down on fentanyl trafficking
Read full article: In Mexico, Yellen announces economics sanctions as the US aims to crack down on fentanyl traffickingTreasury Secretary Janet Yellen has announced economic sanctions against 15 people and two companies that the United States says are linked to a Mexican drug cartel.
Officials stock up on overdose antidote naloxone after fentanyl-laced letters disrupt vote counting
Read full article: Officials stock up on overdose antidote naloxone after fentanyl-laced letters disrupt vote countingElection officials around the country are stocking up on the overdose reversal medication naloxone after a series of suspicious mailings — some containing traces of fentanyl — were sent to vote centers or government buildings in six states.
Local election workers have been under siege since 2020. Now they face fentanyl-laced letters
Read full article: Local election workers have been under siege since 2020. Now they face fentanyl-laced lettersThreatening letters sent to local election offices in at least five states, some including fentanyl, are the latest concern for local election workers around the country.
Teen overdose deaths are rapidly rising: List of resources to help combat fentanyl
Read full article: Teen overdose deaths are rapidly rising: List of resources to help combat fentanylIn 2022, the Houston office of the Drug Enforcement Administration said it seized enough fatal doses of fentanyl to kill every person in the greater Houston area. This is in addition to the 674,000 counterfeit pills seized by the office last year.
The US sanctions Mexican Sinaloa cartel members and firms over fentanyl trafficking
Read full article: The US sanctions Mexican Sinaloa cartel members and firms over fentanyl traffickingThe Treasury Department has imposed sanctions on 13 members of Mexico’s powerful Sinaloa cartel and four Mexico-based firms accused of trafficking fentanyl into the United States.
US government says it plans to go after legal goods tied to illegal fentanyl trade in new strategy
Read full article: US government says it plans to go after legal goods tied to illegal fentanyl trade in new strategyThe U.S. Customs and Border Protection has announced a new government-wide strategy that will target not only fentanyl but precursor materials used to make the synthetic opioid.
‘We need to do something’: Cleveland ISD hands out free Naloxone during town hall meeting amid reported drug overdoses
Read full article: ‘We need to do something’: Cleveland ISD hands out free Naloxone during town hall meeting amid reported drug overdosesThe lifesaving drug Naloxone used to reverse opioid overdoses, was handed out at Santa Fe Middle School during a Cleveland ISD town hall meeting. The meeting addressed the realities of fentanyl use.
US announces sweeping action against Chinese fentanyl supply chain producers
Read full article: US announces sweeping action against Chinese fentanyl supply chain producersThe Biden administration is taking aim at the fentanyl trafficking threat, announcing a series of indictments and sanctions against Chinese companies and executives blamed for importing the chemicals used to make the deadly drug.
Families of those killed by fentanyl gather at DEA as US undergoes deadliest overdose crisis
Read full article: Families of those killed by fentanyl gather at DEA as US undergoes deadliest overdose crisisAbout 150 people from families who have lost a loved one to fentanyl poisoning have gathered at the headquarters of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration as the U.S. faces its deadliest overdose crisis.
Fentanyl found under trap door at the Bronx day care where a baby fell ill before dying
Read full article: Fentanyl found under trap door at the Bronx day care where a baby fell ill before dyingInvestigators have found more fentanyl hidden under a trap door at the New York City day care where a 1-year-old boy fell ill and later died and three other kids got sick from apparent opioid exposure last week, police said.
‘We’ve made great progress’: UH scientists who created anti-fentanyl vaccine step closer to becoming FDA-approved
Read full article: ‘We’ve made great progress’: UH scientists who created anti-fentanyl vaccine step closer to becoming FDA-approvedIn 2022, history was made inside a University of Houston lab where a team of scientists developed a vaccine that blocked fentanyl from entering the brain, which prevents overdose and death.
Bronx day care owner says she had no idea fentanyl was in closet after 1-year-old dies of suspected exposure
Read full article: Bronx day care owner says she had no idea fentanyl was in closet after 1-year-old dies of suspected exposureThe owner of the New York City day care center where a 1-year-old boy died due to apparent opioid exposure says she had no idea drugs were in the Bronx facility.
Signs of depression, fight against fentanyl, Derrick Broze discusses mayoral race, and more on Houston Newsmakers
Read full article: Signs of depression, fight against fentanyl, Derrick Broze discusses mayoral race, and more on Houston NewsmakersKhambrel Marshall shares more information about mental health following Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo’s announcement about having clinical depression.
Mexico shutters 23 pharmacies at Caribbean coast resorts after US warned of dangerous pill sales
Read full article: Mexico shutters 23 pharmacies at Caribbean coast resorts after US warned of dangerous pill salesMexico has closed 23 pharmacies at Caribbean coast resorts, six months after a research report warned that drug stores in Mexico were offering foreigners pills they passed off as Oxycodone, Percocet, and Adderall.
175,000 fentanyl pills worth $5.2 million reportedly found during traffic stop in Texas town
Read full article: 175,000 fentanyl pills worth $5.2 million reportedly found during traffic stop in Texas townTwo men were charged after the Stratford Police Department allegedly reported finding 175,000 fentanyl pills during a traffic stop.
Man arrested for distributing nearly 1,100 fentanyl pills to informant in west Houston
Read full article: Man arrested for distributing nearly 1,100 fentanyl pills to informant in west HoustonA man accused of distributing fentanyl pills on multiple occasions in west Houston has been arrested, according to Harris County Sheriff’s Office.
Fentanyl is dominating headlines, but there’s a more comprehensive drug problem happening in Texas
Read full article: Fentanyl is dominating headlines, but there’s a more comprehensive drug problem happening in TexasLawmakers are passing laws in an attempt to slow the rise in fentanyl overdoses, but drug advocates warn the opioid is mostly a booster for other illegal drugs.
Gov. Greg Abbott signs law allowing murder charge for some fentanyl deaths
Read full article: Gov. Greg Abbott signs law allowing murder charge for some fentanyl deathsThe new laws will now prosecute fentanyl deaths as murder, ensure death certificates reflect when people are poisoned by fentanyl, provide more life-saving NARCAN to Texas colleges and universities, and educate young Texans about the dangers of fentanyl.
Lifesaving fentanyl test strips still illegal in some states under '70s-era war on drugs law
Read full article: Lifesaving fentanyl test strips still illegal in some states under '70s-era war on drugs lawA growing number of states are decriminalizing fentanyl testing strips, seeking to protect people who use drugs from unwitting exposure to the highly potent synthetic opioid ravaging the U.S. with overdose deaths.
20-year-old Dallas man sentenced to 14 years in federal prison for supplying fentanyl in deadly overdose
Read full article: 20-year-old Dallas man sentenced to 14 years in federal prison for supplying fentanyl in deadly overdoseA 20-year-old man has been sentenced to prison after his reported involvement in a deadly overdose in 2021.According to information from the Department of Justice, Dallas man Robert Habtemariam plead guilty to possession with intent to manufacture and deliver Fentanyl.
El Chapo’s son, Sinaloa members face sanctions over fentanyl
Read full article: El Chapo’s son, Sinaloa members face sanctions over fentanylThe United States has sanctioned a son of Mexican drug lord Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman, three members of the Sinaloa cartel and two Mexican-based firms, alleging they trafficked fentanyl and other drugs into the U.S. Tuesday's sanctions came the day Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador talked with President Joe Biden about immigration and the fentanyl crisis.
More sanctions for deadly fentanyl if bill becomes law
Read full article: More sanctions for deadly fentanyl if bill becomes lawOver the course of a year, the U.S. Treasury Department has used the hammer of its sanctions powers to impose wide-ranging financial restrictions on Russia in response to its invasion of Ukraine, turning Russia into the most sanctioned country in the world.
Bill to combat youth fentanyl crisis to be introduced after multiple teens overdose in a Texas school district
Read full article: Bill to combat youth fentanyl crisis to be introduced after multiple teens overdose in a Texas school districtRyan Vaughn’s daughter, Sienna, was just 16 years old when she died of an overdose after unknowingly ingesting fentanyl.
Large amount of narcotics, guns, stolen vehicles seized after search warrant in W. Houston
Read full article: Large amount of narcotics, guns, stolen vehicles seized after search warrant in W. HoustonA large amount of illegal narcotics, as well as guns and stolen vehicles were recovered after multiple search warrants were executed in west Houston Friday.
Pres. Biden’s drug czar declares fentanyl laced with animal tranquilizer an ‘emerging threat’ facing U.S.
Read full article: Pres. Biden’s drug czar declares fentanyl laced with animal tranquilizer an ‘emerging threat’ facing U.S.President Joe Biden’s drug czar on Wednesday declared that fentanyl mixed with xylazine, an animal tranquilizer known as “tranq” that has been linked to a rising number of overdose deaths across the U.S., represents an “emerging threat” facing the nation.
Lawmakers’ attempts to tighten drug laws could saddle crime labs with an unsustainable workload
Read full article: Lawmakers’ attempts to tighten drug laws could saddle crime labs with an unsustainable workloadTexas lawmakers want tougher criminal penalties for possession of delta-8 and fentanyl. But that would mean much more work for the crime labs handling most of the drug testing for the state’s 254 counties.
The battle to legalize fentanyl testing strips continues in Austin
Read full article: The battle to legalize fentanyl testing strips continues in AustinIn Austin on Thursday, Governor Greg Abbott announced immediate emergency actions to combat the rising number of fentanyl deaths in Texas. The governor making the announcement at a fentanyl summit consisting of more than 250 people where the governor announced his One Pill Kills campaign.
2 suspects toting suspected fentanyl, cocaine, and more arrested near drug-free school zone in Sealy
Read full article: 2 suspects toting suspected fentanyl, cocaine, and more arrested near drug-free school zone in SealyA narcotics bust where several drugs were found led to the arrest of two men near a drug-free school zone in Sealy Tuesday, police said.
US and Mexico weighing deal for Mexico to crack down on fentanyl going north while US cracks down on guns going south
Read full article: US and Mexico weighing deal for Mexico to crack down on fentanyl going north while US cracks down on guns going southThe U.S. is preparing to announce a deal with Mexico to counter fentanyl coming across the southern border, with Mexico cracking down on labs and smuggling while the U.S. does more to stop the flow of U.S. guns into Mexico, two sources familiar with the strategy told NBC News.
As Fentanyl deaths rise, greater focus is placed by law enforcement on Mexico and the border
Read full article: As Fentanyl deaths rise, greater focus is placed by law enforcement on Mexico and the borderFentanyl, one of the most lethal drugs on the streets, has the ability for a vast quantity to be transported in little spaces.
Fentanyl has driven a surge in drug overdoses in Latino communities
Read full article: Fentanyl has driven a surge in drug overdoses in Latino communitiesOverdose deaths among Latinos have nearly tripled since 2011 as more fentanyl has made its way into cities across the country, usually mixed with other drugs.
Bills call for Texas teachers to be trained to administer lifesaving overdose drugs to students
Read full article: Bills call for Texas teachers to be trained to administer lifesaving overdose drugs to studentsTexas is attempting to address the fentanyl crisis gripping schools by having staff learn how to administer lifesaving medication.
KPRC 2 Investigates: Sneaky devices your kids could be using to hide drugs
Read full article: KPRC 2 Investigates: Sneaky devices your kids could be using to hide drugsYou already know what illegal drugs like cocaine, opioids and marijuana look like, but have you seen the sneaky, new devices kids are using to hide drugs from their parents?
After a wave of teen fentanyl overdoses, a Texas community grapples with shock and anger at the epidemic’s toll
Read full article: After a wave of teen fentanyl overdoses, a Texas community grapples with shock and anger at the epidemic’s tollA rash of overdoses has brought shock and anger to families in Carrollton and become a sobering reminder of how rampantly fentanyl has made its way to young people in recent years.
Houston DEA head says fentanyl is the ‘biggest threat we’ve ever seen’
Read full article: Houston DEA head says fentanyl is the ‘biggest threat we’ve ever seen’Millions of counterfeit pills are being sold on the black market with more than half laced with fentanyl, according to the DEA. In 2022, the Houston office of the DEA seized enough fatal doses of fentanyl to kill every single person in the greater Houston area. This is in addition to the 674,000 counterfeit pills seized by the office last year.
Houston DEA seized more than 670K fentanyl-laced pills in 2022
Read full article: Houston DEA seized more than 670K fentanyl-laced pills in 2022As 2022 comes to an end, the Drug Enforcement Administration Houston Field Division announced that it has seized over 670,000 in fentanyl-laced, fake prescription pills and more than 230 pounds of fentanyl powder this year.
Team of UH scientists find new hope in the fight against fentanyl: A vaccine
Read full article: Team of UH scientists find new hope in the fight against fentanyl: A vaccineA team of Houston scientists developed a vaccine that could block fentanyl from entering the brain, eliminating overdose and even death.
‘I don’t want anyone to go through what I’ve gone through’: Montgomery County teen warns after fentanyl overdose
Read full article: ‘I don’t want anyone to go through what I’ve gone through’: Montgomery County teen warns after fentanyl overdoseA Montgomery County teenager who spent two nights in the hospital earlier this year after overdosing on a pill she didn’t know was laced with fentanyl is warning others about the dangers and spreading the message that it’s not worth it.
15K rainbow fentanyl pills found hidden in Lego bricks in New York drug bust could kill half a million people, report says
Read full article: 15K rainbow fentanyl pills found hidden in Lego bricks in New York drug bust could kill half a million people, report saysThe Drug Enforcement Administration announced their latest seizure of “rainbow fentanyl” is the largest ever in New York, with 15,000 brightly colored pills containing the drug found hidden in children’s toys, reports said.
As fentanyl plagues Texas, Gov. Greg Abbott directs state police to focus on cartels
Read full article: As fentanyl plagues Texas, Gov. Greg Abbott directs state police to focus on cartelsAbbott directed the Department of Public Safety to boost efforts to collect intelligence on cartels and investigate gangs in Texas that support drug and human smuggling.
Fentanyl-related deaths in Montgomery County spark concern, action
Read full article: Fentanyl-related deaths in Montgomery County spark concern, actionOpioid overdoses involving fentanyl are cutting young lives short in Montgomery County at a rate that has leaders concerned and taking steps to make it stop.
Rural Florida county shocked by fentanyl deaths over holiday
Read full article: Rural Florida county shocked by fentanyl deaths over holidayA small, rural county just west of Florida’s capital is stunned by an unheard-of spike in deadly drug overdoses believed to be caused by fentanyl mixed with other illegal drugs.
Don’t pick up folded dollar bills because they may contain fentanyl, Tennessee sheriff says
Read full article: Don’t pick up folded dollar bills because they may contain fentanyl, Tennessee sheriff saysAuthorities in Tennessee are warning residents not to pick up discarded folded dollar bills because they may contain fentanyl.
19-year-old arrested in connection with overdose deaths of 2 Woodland HS students, officials say
Read full article: 19-year-old arrested in connection with overdose deaths of 2 Woodland HS students, officials sayA 19-year-old has been arrested after authorities say he allegedly gave Fentanyl to two other teens, resulting in their deaths earlier this month.
Grieving mother hopes Woodlands High School teen daughter’s overdose death prevents others
Read full article: Grieving mother hopes Woodlands High School teen daughter’s overdose death prevents othersParents forced to bury their children say the pain is incomparable. Now, one mother in The Woodlands is using her grief to inform others about the dangers of addiction so that her daughter’s death may help save other lives.
WATCH LIVE: Houston police, Drug Enforcement Administration discuss awareness of fake fentanyl pills
Read full article: WATCH LIVE: Houston police, Drug Enforcement Administration discuss awareness of fake fentanyl pillsThe Drug Enforcement Administration will join Houston Police, Texas Department of Public Safety to discuss the dangers of fake fentanyl pills as part of the ongoing fentanyl overdose crisis in Harris and surrounding counties.
Video: As more Texans die from fentanyl overdoses, advocates and experts urge harm reduction policies
Read full article: Video: As more Texans die from fentanyl overdoses, advocates and experts urge harm reduction policiesAlyssa Pastrana was 21 years old when she died of an accidental fentanyl overdose at her home in Abilene.
Drug lab used to manufacture pills laced with Fentanyl discovered in N. Harris County neighborhood
Read full article: Drug lab used to manufacture pills laced with Fentanyl discovered in N. Harris County neighborhoodThe Harris County Precinct 4 Constable’s Office and the Texas Department of Public Safety are investigating a drug lab in north Harris County.
Montgomery County man convicted of distributing fentanyl resulting in overdose
Read full article: Montgomery County man convicted of distributing fentanyl resulting in overdoseA 41-year-old Pinehurst man has entered a guilty plea to distributing drugs that resulted in the serious bodily injury of another Montgomery County resident, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.
Experts present details about finding first fentanyl-laced ecstasy tablet in Houston area
Read full article: Experts present details about finding first fentanyl-laced ecstasy tablet in Houston areaHOUSTON – The Houston Forensic Science Center discussed the latest on fentanyl this week, including an 87% increase in fentanyl cases the center saw last year. When it comes to some of the problems connected to the drug, Rania Mankarious, the chief executive officer at Crime Stoppers of Houston, isn’t holding back. Vaughan Gilmore is the director of addiction services at The Menninger Clinic, a Houston facility that treats psychiatric and addiction issues. Representatives from the forensic science center, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Houston Police Department and the Houston Health Department talked about fentanyl and its harsh effects on Thursday at 10 a.m. AdAccording to James Miller, the manager of the Houston Forensic Science Center’s Seized Drugs Unit, some pills appear to be legitimate until they are tested.
Experts present details about finding first fentanyl-laced ecstasy tablet in Houston area
Read full article: Experts present details about finding first fentanyl-laced ecstasy tablet in Houston areaThe Houston Forensic Science Center will discuss the latest on fentanyl this week, including an 87% increase in fentanyl cases the center saw last year.
Hazmat crews respond after Fentanyl overdose in Nassau Bay apartment
Read full article: Hazmat crews respond after Fentanyl overdose in Nassau Bay apartmentNassau Bay officials are responding to a fatal Fentanyl overdose at an apartment Sunday morning, according to the police department’s Facebook page. Nassau Bay officials are responding to a fatal Fentanyl overdose at an apartment Sunday morning, according to the police department’s Facebook page. Officials said Nassau Bay EMS and Nassau Bay PD responded to a report of a deadly overdose, and when they arrived they were informed of the possibility of Fentanyl being present in the apartment. Due to the highly toxic nature of Fentanyl, police said emergency personnel evacuated the apartment and contacted the hazardous material crews. All Nassau Bay personnel at the scene are also being monitored and examined by EMS and HazMat at the scene for any possible exposure, police said.
Over 10,000 pills containing Fentanyl seized during traffic stop in Fort Bend County
Read full article: Over 10,000 pills containing Fentanyl seized during traffic stop in Fort Bend CountyBEASLY, Texas – Fort Bend County authorities have taken a man into custody after they said they found thousands of pills containing Fentanyl hidden in his vehicle. Part of the Fort Bend County Narcotics Task Force conducted a traffic stop Friday on Highway 59 in Beasly. During that stop, authorities said they found “five containers of what was made to appear as 10,000+ Xanax tablets.”Fort Bend County officials found 10,000 tablets of Fentanyl hidden in a vehicle. (Fort Bend County)The containers were found hidden within “natural voids” of the vehicle, authorities said. Upon further investigation, authorities were able to determine that the tablets actually contained Fentanyl instead of Xanax.