DEA Says ‘We’re Not Going to Stop Until Zero’ as Fentanyl Free USVI Initiative Launches

The Drug Enforcement Agency’s Caribbean Division, working with local partners, has launched the Fentanyl Free USVI Initiative, a program that will “protect the U.S. Virgin Islands.” The initiative aligns with the DEA’s mission of “strengthening its fight against the deadly synthetic opioid crisis.” That’s according to Tony Velazquez, public affairs specialist. He described the initiative as a “comprehensive enforcement and public awareness initiative focused on protecting lives and communities throughout the U.S. Virgin Islands.” Deaths related to drug overdoses are far from novel in the United States. Provisional counts from the Centers for Disease Control report 79,159 reported deaths by overdose during the 12 months ending January 2025. The predicted number of deaths for that timeframe is slightly higher, at 79,896. Fentanyl remains at the forefront of the opioid crisis.  Partner agencies are “deeply concerned” about the “growing threat” that the drug poses to the safety of the U...