ALLENTOWN, Pa. \u2014 FBI Director Kash Patel and U.S. Sen. Dave McCormick were in our area Wednesday.<\/p>\n
They joined the attorney general in Allentown to discuss how the federal government is combating the fentanyl crisis.<\/p>\n
On Wednesday, federal and state law enforcement leaders, prosecutors, and families impacted by the fentanyl crisis gathered for a roundtable discussion in Allentown.<\/p>\n
There, FBI Director Kash Patel spoke about the agency’s progress in Pennsylvania.<\/p>\n
“Luckily this year in Pennsylvania alone, just in 2026, we’ve already seized 100 kilograms of fentanyl\u2014that’s hundreds of thousands of lives saved,” said Patel.<\/p>\n
Officials at the roundtable said international efforts in China and stopping the flow of fentanyl at the border have contributed to the decrease in drug overdose deaths in Pennsylvania.<\/p>\n
State data shows that from 2020 to 2024, fentanyl killed around 4,000 people a year.<\/p>\n
Preliminary numbers show that in 2025, that number fell to roughly 1,500.<\/p>\n
“Shutting down the manufacturing of pre-factors in China and closing the border and stopping the flow have been absolutely essential. It’s not alone going to be enough, but I think it’s a huge indicator of why we have been so successful in this fight,” said David Metcalf, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.<\/p>\n
State and federal officials also emphasized the importance of investing in treatment, recovery, and education.<\/p>\n
As many noted during the meeting, the fight against fentanyl is far from finished.<\/p>\n
“It’s something that we just can’t continue to have this happen in Pennsylvania and in our country,” said McCormick.<\/p>\n
In discussions about what can be done going forward, officials said they want to get more funding to local communities so they can continue to combat the crisis.<\/p>\n
You can watch the entire roundtable discussion on our website here<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n