This amount is minimal compared to the approximately 21 tons of narcotics seized last year.
In Poland, fentanyl most often enters illegal circulation through false prescriptions or theft of medication containing these substances. However, police also indicate that the powder or tablets may come from smuggling.
In a Saturday statement from the Social Communication Bureau of the National Police Headquarters, based on data from the Criminal Bureau, it was reported that no cases of fentanyl production have been identified in Poland, nor have any substances used for its production been confiscated.
The statement added that over the past several months, the police conducted 20 preliminary proceedings related to fentanyl, identifying 22 suspects in the process. It emphasized that cases of drug seizures and the number of proceedings in these matters constitute a marginal share of the overall drug market in Poland. In 2023 alone, the police initiated 37,728 drug-related proceedings.
Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid analgesic, similar to morphine but 50 to 100 times stronger. It is prescribed for severe pain, such as that experienced by cancer patients or those undergoing surgery. However, its high potency also makes it highly prone to abuse, addiction, and overdose.
The drug has posed a serious problem in the United States, contributing significantly to the country’s opioid crisis. Its high potency and prevalence in the illegal drug market have made it a major driver of overdose deaths.
According to provisional data from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in 2022, nearly 83,000 people died from opioid overdoses in the U.S., with the majority of deaths attributed to fentanyl and other highly potent synthetic substances.
Fentanyl overdose is also the primary cause of death for Americans aged 18 to 45.
