50,208 pills of the deadliest synthetic opioid currently known have just been seized. Image courtesy of the DEA Seattle Field Office.

The DEA, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Federal Way Police, and Centralia Police seized over 50,000 pills of Carfentanil in Centralia, Washington.

The driver was caught, and the pills were sent to a lab, showing the results as a mix of Carfentanil, and a filler of acetaminophen.

Carfentanil has caused 29 deaths between January and June of 2023, and 238 deaths within the same period in 2024.

This drug is 1,000 times more potent than morphine and 100 times more potent than fentanyl. Carfentanil is extremely dangerous to any users, including opioid-tolerant users, and any first responders exposed to the substance.

Carfentanil is used to tranquilize large mammals, such as elephants. The current lethal dose for humans is currently unknown. As it’s 100 times stronger than fentanyl (which is lethal at 2 mg), we can expect the lethal dose to be around 0.2 mg.

Do not handle the drug, as this is a dangerous substance that should only be handled by professionals.

Be aware of exposure, symptoms of the drug include: respiratory depression or arrest, drowsiness, disorientation, sedation, pinpoint pupils, and clammy skin. These symptoms occur within just minutes of exposure.

The speed of opioids such as Carfentanil and fentanyl is intense. Immediate medical attention and naloxone are vital for survival in overdose cases. Naloxone should be administered every two-three minutes until emergency medical services arrive, or until the individual is breathing on their own for at least 15 minutes.