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.
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.