Austin News

August 1, 2024

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators John Cornyn (R-TX), Chris Coons (D-DE), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), and Maria Cantwell (D-WA) introduced the Fight Illicit Pill Presses Act today. The bill aims to curb the production of counterfeit and fentanyl-laced pills by mandating serial numbers on pill presses, thus aiding federal law enforcement in tackling cartels' illegal activities.

“Seven out of ten pills seized by the DEA are laced with a lethal dose of fentanyl, underscoring just how easy it is for this silent killer to permeate in our communities and take the lives of our innocent and unsuspecting loved ones,” said Sen. Cornyn. “By requiring the serialization of pill presses, this bill will help law enforcement better detect, trace, and prosecute the cartels who are using this machinery to produce these deadly pills.”

Sen. Coons emphasized further action: “Even as the Biden administration continues to crack down on fentanyl supply chains, there is more Congress can do to address the current leading cause of death for younger Americans. The Fight Illicit Pill Presses Act will target an underappreciated but critical part of the fentanyl supply chain: pill press machines used for illicit purposes. I appreciate Sen. Cornyn’s leadership in developing this approach with me to help track pill presses in a way that properly accounts for the needs of law enforcement, legitimate businesses, and our communities.”

Sen. Moran highlighted the impact: “Fentanyl has taken the lives of thousands of Americans and continues to be a leading cause of death in the United States. By imposing penalties for removing or altering serial numbers on pill presses, law enforcement will be able to more effectively target those responsible for the production of counterfeit fentanyl-laced pills and help prevent drug traffickers from flooding our country with these deadly fake pills.”

Sen. Klobuchar also noted community impacts: “Fentanyl has devastated families across Minnesota and this crisis is being fueled by those who use pill presses to make counterfeit drugs. We need to do more to fight traffickers and protect communities. This bipartisan legislation will require all pill presses to have a serial number, which will help law enforcement keep track of pill presses, fight counterfeit pill production, reduce overdoses, and ultimately save lives.”

In 2023, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) seized over 80 million fentanyl-laced pills as cartels increasingly access pharmaceutical-grade pill presses for counterfeiting purposes indistinguishable from legitimate medication. Despite seizures across 43 states under current Controlled Substances Act provisions requiring distribution records for such equipment, many reports suggest these actions represent only a fraction of illicit usage.

The Fight Illicit Pill Presses Act seeks to enhance DEA capabilities by amending existing legislation to mandate serial numbers on all encapsulating or tableting machines while criminalizing any tampering with these identifiers or transporting/possessing altered machines.

Endorsements come from multiple organizations including 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.