DEA’s Fentanyl Free America campaign shows progress in Laredo

LAREDO, Tex. (KGNS) – A federal campaign aimed at stopping fentanyl is showing signs of progress in Laredo, with overdose deaths declining significantly over the past two years, but DEA officials warn the drug remains a serious threat.The Drug Enforcement Administration’s Fentanyl Free America initiative, a multi-divisional effort aimed at eliminating fentanyl overdoses nationwide, has made headway in the Gateway City through public awareness, education, enforcement and intelligence operations.“The goal is to make America safe again when it comes to fentanyl — remove fentanyl from the streets,” said DEA Special Agent Robert Kennedy.In Laredo, officials point to a steady decline in fentanyl-related deaths each year since 2023, when nearly 100 people died in the city from the lethal drug.“We started with almost 73 fentanyl deaths back in 2023, we reduced that to 42, and now we’re at 15,” Kennedy said. “We’re doing everything that we possibly can to make sure that we take the fentanyl rate down to zero. Here in Laredo, I think that’s attainable.”As of early December 2025, the DEA said it has seized more than 45 million pills nationwide. Laboratory testing also shows a decline in the share of pills testing positive for fentanyl, down from 76 percent in 2024 to 29 percent in 2025, nearly a 50 percent drop in just one year.Despite the progress, Kennedy emphasized that the fight must continue as traffickers and dealers keep changing tactics.“We’re at a forefront where if we get comfortable, we lose. And this is a war, and I want to make sure that we win — especially when we have traffickers and distributors who are killing innocent individuals who have no idea what they’re taking,” Kennedy said.The DEA official stressed that education and awareness remain critical components of the campaign.“We’re now at a point where education should not stop. Regardless of how low the fentanyl death rate becomes here or across the United States, we should never take our foot off the gas pedal. We must keep educating everyone on the dangers of this deadly drug,” Kennedy said.Officials said they are counting on community members to learn the risks and help spread awareness in hopes of pushing the death toll to zero in 2026.For more headlines, click here.Copyright 2026 KGNS. All rights reserved.