In a significant development, law enforcement on Hawaii Island confiscated 635.97 grams of fentanyl in March, setting a new record for the amount of this illicit substance recovered since the tracking of fentanyl-related incidents began in January 2024. Despite the substantial seizure, officials reported only one arrest related to fentanyl during the month, with no fentanyl pills being found.
The amount recovered in March surpasses the total amount seized during the entire year of 2024, when 562.94 grams of fentanyl were collected, accompanied by 50 fentanyl-related arrests. Notably, just two milligrams of fentanyl can be lethal, equating to a mere few grains of salt, highlighting the potential danger posed by the quantity recovered in March, which could have been enough to cause fatalities among 317,985 individuals.
Earlier in 2025, during January and February, authorities recovered a smaller amount of 4.48 grams of fentanyl, resulting in three arrests related to the substance. The substantial haul in March brings the total quantity of fentanyl recovered this year to 640.45 grams, underscoring the escalating challenge of combating the distribution and use of this dangerous drug on the island.
