SEATTLE – The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Seattle Field Division has issued a warning following the seizure of counterfeit M30 pills containing carfentanil in Western Washington.
On September 16, 2025, after a lengthy investigation, law enforcement, including the DEA, Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms, Federal Way Police and Centralia Police, seized over 50,000 pills at a Centralia gas station, Seattle DEA said in a release.
A K-9 unit detected the narcotics, leading to the arrest of the driver from Pacific, Washington, who now faces federal charges. Tests confirmed the pills contained carfentanil and acetaminophen.
“Carfentanil is like fentanyl on steroids,” said David F. Reames, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Seattle Field Division. “The cartels traffic this incredibly dangerous substance in order to profit from our misery.”
Carfentanil, a synthetic opioid meant for tranquilizing large animals, is 10,000 times more potent than morphine. Its presence in counterfeit pills increases the risk of fatal overdoses, especially among unsuspecting users, DEA Seattle said in the release.
Recent data from the CDC shows a dramatic rise in deaths involving carfentanil, increasing from 29 deaths in early 2023 to 238 deaths in early 2024. King County Medical Examiner’s Office reports six carfentanil-related overdoses in 2024 and four so far in 2025.
The DEA advises never to take pills not prescribed by a doctor and to be vigilant for symptoms of carfentanil exposure. In case of suspected overdose, call 911 immediately and administer naloxone if available.
