Prosecutors and defense lawyers say Haley’s story is typical; the vast majority of illicit fentanyl — close to 90% — is seized at official border crossings. Immigration authorities say nearly all of that is smuggled by people who are legally authorized to cross the border, and more than half by U.S. citizens like Haley. Virtually none is seized from migrants seeking asylum.

  • @[email protected]
    4•1 year ago

    …“the vast majority of illicit fentanyl — close to 90% — is seized at official border crossings” I always take ‘news’ with a grain of salt when they claim they know a percentage of a total that they absolutely do not. 90% of what, total seized? That sounds about right. They have no clue what the total of illicit fentanyl is.

    • missmystique
      9•1 year ago

      The article touches on that. The 90% number has an accompanying chart with seizures by year in pounds from both ports of entry and also between the ports, citing U.S. Customs and Border Protection drug seizure statistics. So, that’s 90% of total fentanyl seized, not 90% of total fentanyl attempted.

      The article later cites a Homeland Security testimony to the U.S. House of Representatives that states only an estimated 25% of attempted fentanyl is seized.

      • @[email protected]
        1•1 year ago

        You linked a report with methodology and limits, but did you read it? Traceability assumptions are, first and foremost, assumptions. To assume this agency has all required data points for some news article to claim a percentage on a number there is no way they could know, is…well I already touched on that in my first post.

        • 【J】【u】【s】【t】【Z】
          1•1 year ago

          I skimmed through the methodology. I’m a criminologist by training and the assumptions that aren’t based on nothing. It’s still science-based evidence.