Loophole contributing to the current drug crisis, including the importation of fentanyl
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Shatterproof along with a coalition of law enforcement and national nonprofit and community-based organizations devoted to fighting against the fentanyl crisis plaguing our nation sent a letter to the leaders of the House and Senate urging them to take immediate action to close the de minimis loophole. This loophole is contributing to the current drug crisis, including the importation of deadly fentanyl, that is plaguing American families and communities. This Wednesday, U.S. Representative Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) is leading House Ways and Means Committee Democrats in a roundtable on the de minimis loophole.
Signatories of the letter besides Shatterproof include the Coalition for a Prosperous America, Families Against Fentanyl, Kelsie’s Cause, Lost Voices of Fentanyl, National Association of Police Organizations, National Sheriff’s Association, Voice for Awareness, and VOID.
Section 321 of the Tariff Act of 1930, known commonly as “de minimis,” allows individual packages to be shipped directly to American consumers with virtually no inspection or documentation and free of duty if the contents are valued beneath the de minimis threshold of $800. These packages can be shipped to the U.S. via cargo, international mail and express consignment and are often low-weight shipments. According to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), imports using the de minimis loophole include “high-risk shipments that may contain narcotics, merchandise that pose a risk to public safety, counterfeits, or other contraband.”
The letter requests that Congressional leaders immediately advance legislation to close the de minimis provision in U.S. trade law that is helping to fuel the current drug crisis devastating American families and communities and exhausting the resources of U.S. law enforcement. Closing the de minimis provision by decoupling all e-commerce transactions for qualifying for de minimis treatment is the only way to comprehensively address these issues. Additionally, the coalition is asking that the administration use its existing authorities to close the loophole.
“With more than 112,000 overdose deaths in the United States during the 12-month period ending in May 2023, we have an obligation to identify policies that can quickly and effectively reduce this tragic and unnecessary loss of life,” said Kevin Roy, chief public policy officer for Shatterproof. “Increasing surveillance of shipments into the country has been a bipartisan policy priority for decades, including the latest supplemental budget request. Continuing this policy for smaller, international shipments is one small, but common-sense step to reducing the number of fentanyl-related deaths.”
Currently, nearly 49 million people struggle with a substance use disorder. Additionally, fentanyl is involved in 84 percent of drug overdoses for people between the ages of 15 and 19, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
Tune into the roundtable on Wednesday at 3 p.m. Eastern.
About Shatterproof:
Shatterproof is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to transforming the addiction treatment system in the U.S. Shatterproof is focused on guiding society, especially families, through the complexities of a substance use disorder; informing the public on prevention, treatment and recovery from addiction; and educating the public to reduce addiction stigma to ensure that people who use substances or have a substance use disorder can live healthy and fulfilled lives. Find Shatterproof on Facebook, X and YouTube: @ShatterproofHQ or follow them on Instagram: @weareshatterproof. To learn more, visit www.Shatterproof.org.
CONTACT:
Lauren Lawson-Zilai
Shatterproof PR
press@shatterproof.org
