Drug Enforcement Administration offices in South Dakota reported a 43% increase in fentanyl powder seizures and 41% decrease in counterfeit pill seizures in 2025. Omaha Field Division Special Agent in Charge Dustin Gillespie says DEA has noticed a shift away from pill production, with cartels opting instead for the cost savings associated with fentanyl powder production and distribution. He says agents in South Dakota have seen powder, which decreased in purity from nearly 20% to 10.3%, mixed into other substances including cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine. Gillespie says too often we think the Midwest is insulated from the effects of fentanyl, but the poison impacting cities along the coasts knows no boundaries. Across the state, DEA agents seized more than four pounds of fentanyl and roughly 27,500 counterfeit pills. If combined, the seizures add up to an estimated 146,000 fatal doses of fentanyl removed from South Dakota communities. While fentanyl remains the deadliest drug threat facing the nation, Gillespie says it’s worth noting that agents also reported a jump in both methamphetamine and cocaine seizures in South Dakota. He says more than 300 pounds of methamphetamine and close to 40 pounds of cocaine were seized in 2025. Gillespie says the DEA remains committed to removing fentanyl and other illicit substances from South Dakota and the entire United States. He says last fall, DEA kicked off Fentanyl Free America, which focuses on enforcement, education, increased awareness and strategic partnerships to help with eliminating the threats facing the country. ...read more read less