Tillis leads GOP colleagues in request that DEA explain actions to address illicit drugs

U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) led several of his fellow Republicans in requesting details from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) about how the agency is working to end illegal narcotics flooding into America’s communities.

“Illicit drugs like counterfeit pills laced with fentanyl are not only getting into the hands of adults, but also to the most vulnerable members in our communities, our children,” Sen. Tillis and his four GOP colleagues wrote in an Aug. 9 letter sent to DEA Administrator Anne Milgram. “We are writing to request information detailing what the DEA is doing to stop drug networks and cartels from overflowing our communities with illicit narcotics.” 

Sen. Tillis and his colleagues pointed out that the nation is facing an unprecedented opioid crisis that is devastating communities and impacting families across all demographics. They also cited Feb. 9 data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which reported that the United States had more than 100,000 fentanyl-related deaths during a 12-month period.

“The overdoses are fueled from multiple fronts including the porous southern border, drug networks using social media to sell illicit narcotics, and China’s supply of the bulk of the precursor chemicals to drug cartels for fentanyl production,” wrote the senators.

In their letter, they requested that Milgram answer numerous questions about how the DEA is countering drug cartels and dismantling drug networks to help protect communities around the country.

“We understand that it takes a multi-pronged strategy to address this crisis,” the lawmakers wrote, “but we respectfully ask you to explain to us what actions the DEA is taking.”