Montana Fentanyl Seizures Drop Sharply But Dangers Remain

Missoula, MT (KGVO-AM News) - It is National Fentanyl Prevention and Awareness Day, and Attorney General Austin Knudsen is warning Montanans of the dangers of illicit fentanyl. 

“So far this year, fentanyl seizures in Montana are down, and that’s great news,” Knudsen said. “We can attribute a lot of that progress to President Trump’s efforts to secure the southern border and keep drugs out of our communities. However, we can’t get complacent. Still, too many Montanans are dying of fentanyl overdoses.” 

Knudsen said he will continue to do everything he can at the Montana Department of Justice, working with local and federal law enforcement, to get this poison off the streets and hold drug traffickers accountable.  

“I encourage every Montanan to join us in our effort to combat the fentanyl crisis: educate yourself and your friends and family on the dangers of fentanyl and never take a pill that isn’t prescribed to you,” Knudsen said. 

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Fentanyl Seizure Numbers are Down 

Through March 31, Rocky Mountain High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (RMHIDTA) task forces, which includes the Montana Department of Justice’s narcotics bureau agents and Montana Highway Patrol (MHP) criminal interdiction teams, seized a total of 31,506 dosage units of fentanyl in Montana compared to 163,184 dosage units in the first quarter of 2024, a decrease of 81 percent. So far this year, the Montana Highway Patrol has seized 4,292 fentanyl pills and 1.5 pounds of fentanyl powder. 

However, Knudsen said fentanyl-linked deaths are on pace to break records.  

“According to the State Crime Lab, there have been 46 fentanyl-linked fatal overdoses in Montana as of June 30,” Knudsen said. “The crime lab reports that in 34 of those fatal overdoses, fentanyl has been mixed with another illegal drug, like methamphetamine. In all of 2024, there were 55 fentanyl-linked overdoses reported by the State Crime Lab.” 

This number does not reflect the entire statewide total, as the crime lab only verifies deaths that involve an autopsy. 

Knudsen Continues to Combat the Opioid Crisis in Montana 

Last week, Knudsen hosted the Montana Department of Justice Opioid Overdose Prevention Summit, which brought together stakeholders from across the state to discuss how to combat the opioid crisis in Montana.  

During the 2025 session, Knudsen supported Senate Bill 261, which allows prosecutors to charge adults with endangering the welfare of a child if fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, and other dangerous drugs are found in their possession while a child is present. 

READ MORE: 2024 REPORT: Surprising Drug Seizure Numbers in Montana

In 2024, Knudsen put life-saving opioid reversal kits in middle and high schools across the state. 

In 2023, Knudsen supported House Bill 791, which imposes a mandatory two years of jail time, a $50,000 fine, or both, for anyone convicted of selling fentanyl in Montana.