Washington, D.C. — U.S. Representatives Eugene Vindman (D-Va.-07) and Dan Crenshaw (R-Texas-02) introduced the Targeting Online Sales of Fentanyl Act, bipartisan legislation to tackle the fentanyl crisis by addressing the online sale of counterfeit pills and illicit drugs laced with fentanyl.
“Enough is enough. Drug dealers selling fentanyl continue to take the lives of Virginians in every corner of our Commonwealth, and these dangerous cartels have adapted their tactics to evade law enforcement. The days of drug lords exploiting social media and encrypted platforms are over. Congress has a responsibility to act — so we are,” said Vindman. “This bipartisan legislation will help law enforcement identify the platforms, tactics, and loopholes being exploited so we can act decisively protecting families and preventing more senseless deaths.”
“Today we take a critical step toward shutting down the digital pipelines that fuel the fentanyl crisis. Far too many families have been torn apart because illegal opioids are being bought and sold online with reckless ease,” said Crenshaw. “H.R. 5744 will bring accountability, improve enforcement, and ensure we have the data and tools needed to stop these deadly drugs before they reach another community. This is about saving lives and defending our kids from a poison that has already taken far too many.”
According to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Sinaloa and Jalisco Cartels — global criminal enterprises that have developed global supply chain networks — rely on associates in the United States to distribute the drugs both at a retail level on the streets and on social media.
This bipartisan bill would require the United States Government Accountability Office (GAO) to issue a report on the online sale of drugs contaminated with fentanyl, methamphetamine, and synthetic opioids over the internet. The report would include information on the platforms hosting sales, the tactics and business models used by online drug dealers, and current efforts by the U.S. government to curb the problem.
Specifically, the Targeting Online Sales of Fentanyl Act would require the GAO to provide a report within one year, including:
- Business models and techniques employed by online fentanyl traffickers;
- Utilization of social media platforms in facilitating fentanyl transactions involving youth;
- Scope and effectiveness of federal initiatives aimed at countering online fentanyl sales, including intergovernmental and interagency collaborations;
- Enforcement mechanisms and processes employed by online providers to detect and report transactions; and
- An analysis of the outcomes of referrals to law enforcement agencies regarding online fentanyl sales, along with areas requiring improvement.
The legislation is endorsed by the National Association of Police Organizations (NAPO), the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP), the Peace Officers Research Association of California (PORAC).
“The spread of fentanyl in our communities is devastating. It is being mixed with already deadly illicit drugs, hidden in counterfeit drugs, and being peddled at alarmingly high rates to our youth through social media. The data that will be produced due to Targeting Online Sales of Fentanyl Act will ensure the right resources and tools are being provided to law enforcement, government entities and private sector organizations to combat and deter sales of fentanyl on social media,” said Bill Johnson, Executive Director, National Association of Police Organizations. “With 76 percent of teen overdose deaths in 2023 linked to fentanyl, the time to act to protect our children is now. NAPO supports this important bill and thanks Representatives Vindman and Crenshaw for their advocacy and leadership.”
“In 2022, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) identified that drug traffickers were increasingly relying upon online platforms such as TikTok, Snapchat, Facebook, and Instagram to circulate deadly counterfeit pills laced with fentanyl. Individuals who purchase these pills, which are primarily advertised to young people as routine over-the-counter prescription drugs, are not aware that these pills are often laced with deadly doses of fentanyl. Despite the significant risk posed by these online sales, Federal agencies lack reliable data to track these transactions or the effectiveness of potential countermeasures,” said Patrick Yoes, National President, Fraternal Order of Police. “Your legislation will provide this critical data by directing the GAO to investigate the methods used to enable such online sales and assess the procedures and efforts of Federal law enforcement and online providers in combating online sales of fentanyl. […] On behalf of the more than 382,000 members of the Fraternal Order of Police, I thank you both for your leadership on this important issue.”
“On behalf of the Peace Officers Research Association of California (PORAC), representing approximately 87,000 public safety members and 960 public safety associations, I am writing to express our support for the Targeting Online Sales of Fentanyl Act (H.R.5744). This legislation would require the Government Accountability Office to research online sales of fentanyl, synthetic opioids, and methamphetamine, which will help to educate and better equip law enforcement officers to combat these crimes,” said Board of Directors, Peace Officers Research Association of California. “PORAC sincerely appreciates your leadership and commitment to protecting communities from the online sale of illicit drugs, and we stand ready to assist in advancing this legislation.”
BACKGROUND
In 2023, the DEA seized nationally more than 77 million fentanyl pills and nearly 12,000 pounds of fentanyl powder. This is the most fentanyl seized by DEA in a single year and amounts to more than 386 million deadly doses of fentanyl prevented from reaching consumers — enough to kill every American.
That same year, the DEA reported that the Sinaloa and Jalisco Cartels use social media and encrypted messaging platforms to coordinate logistics and reach out to victims. One DEA effort — Operation Last Mile — comprised 1,436 investigations and resulted in 3,337 arrests and the seizure of nearly 44 million fentanyl pills and more than 6,500 pounds of fentanyl powder.
Among these investigations, more than 1,100 cases involved social media applications and encrypted communications platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, WhatsApp, Telegram, Signal, Wire, and Wickr.
Click here for full bill text.
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