Highlighting the ongoing crisis of dangerous substances pouring into American communities, federal agents intercepted 18 pounds of deadly “tranq” in Chicago.
Xylazine, commonly called “tranq” on the streets, is a powerful sedative designed for large animals like horses.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Anti-Terrorism Contraband Enforcement Team discovered the dangerous animal tranquilizer in three separate shipments originating from China.
The packages were headed to residential addresses in Cleveland and Philadelphia before being intercepted by alert officers.
Drug traffickers increasingly mix “tranq” with fentanyl and heroin to extend their supplies, creating an even more lethal combination that is ravaging American communities.
Unlike opioids, this dangerous substance does not respond to Narcan, the emergency treatment that reverses opioid overdoses.
The interception comes as the Trump administration addresses the southern border crisis, which has allowed drug cartels to flood American communities with deadly narcotics.
While this particular shipment arrived by air cargo, the surge of illegal aliens crossing the southern border stretched resources thin, enabling traffickers to exploit multiple entry points.
“The work of our officers has been incredible and their dedication to CBP’s enforcement mission is evident when you look at these deadly illicit substance seizures,” said Chicago Field Operation Director LaFonda Sutton-Burke.
“Drug traffickers are persistent in their attempts to smuggle sedatives such as xylazine into the United States, however, through our hard work and vigilance we will continue to intercept these dangerous substances at our port of entry before they can harm our communities,” she added.
Health officials warn that xylazine dangerously slows breathing, heart rate, and blood pressure.
What makes this drug particularly terrifying is the complete absence of an antidote.
When someone overdoses on this substance, medical professionals have no specific reversal agent to administer, unlike with opioid overdoses where Narcan can save lives.
Both the FDA and DEA have issued urgent warnings about the rising threat of xylazine in America’s drug supply.
The seizure underscores how foreign entities, particularly from China, continue targeting American communities with deadly substances.
CBP, America’s largest federal law enforcement agency, operates at 328 ports of entry nationwide.
Their vigilance in this case prevented these dangerous substances from reaching American streets.
This seizure raises serious questions about how many similar shipments might be slipping through undetected.
With the ongoing fentanyl epidemic already claiming thousands of American lives yearly, the addition of xylazine to the toxic mix represents yet another deadly challenge for communities already struggling with addiction crises.
