U.S. Senators Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), and Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) have introduced the Fight Illicit Pill Presses Act. This legislation aims to curb the production of counterfeit and fentanyl-laced pills by making it easier for federal law enforcement to target illegal pill press operations.
The act mandates that pill presses be engraved with serial numbers, facilitating their tracking and identification.
“Fentanyl has claimed thousands of American lives and remains a leading cause of death in the U.S.,” said Sen. Moran. “By imposing penalties for tampering with pill press serial numbers, law enforcement can more effectively target those producing counterfeit fentanyl-laced pills, preventing drug traffickers from flooding our country with these deadly substances.”
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Sen. Cornyn highlighted the severity of the crisis, noting, “Seven out of ten pills seized by the DEA are laced with lethal doses of fentanyl. This bill will help law enforcement detect, trace, and prosecute cartels using pill presses to produce deadly pills.”
“Even as the Biden administration cracks down on fentanyl supply chains, there is more we can do. This act targets pill press machines used for illicit purposes, aiding law enforcement and protecting communities,” said Sen. Coons.
“Fentanyl has devastated families in Minnesota and beyond,” said Sen. Klobuchar. “This bipartisan legislation requires all pill presses to have serial numbers, helping law enforcement track and combat counterfeit pill production, reduce overdoses, and save lives.”
In 2023, the DEA seized over 80 million fentanyl-laced pills. Cartels have increasingly accessed pill presses used by pharmaceutical companies to create counterfeit pills that mimic real medication.
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The Controlled Substances Act requires companies to keep records of pill press distribution, aiding the DEA in tracking and seizing illicit equipment. Despite seizures in 43 states, reports suggest many pill presses used by cartels remain unaccounted for.
The Fight Illicit Pill Presses Act aims to assist the DEA and federal law enforcement by amending the Controlled Substances Act. It requires all encapsulating and tableting machines to be engraved with serial numbers and imposes criminal penalties for tampering with these numbers or possessing altered machines.
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The legislation has garnered endorsements from several organizations, including the National HIDTA Directors Association, National Narcotic Officers’ Associations’ Coalition, Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association, Major County Sheriffs of America, Sergeants Benevolent NYPD, National District Attorneys Association, and CPAC.
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