Palmetto State News

Attorney General Alan Wilson, alongside 25 state attorneys general, is urging the Trump administration to address a loophole allowing deadly fentanyl into the United States. The coalition has written to U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem and Acting Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection Pete Flores. They seek increased scrutiny of the Entry Type 86 import pilot program, which permits small packages to enter the country with minimal screening.

"Fentanyl is killing our family members, friends, and neighbors, and we can’t afford to leave the door open for drug traffickers to exploit weak spots in our system," stated Wilson. Highlighting the potential misuse of the program, he added, "The Entry Type 86 program has become a Trojan horse, allowing deadly drugs to flood into our communities with minimal oversight. I’m proud to stand with my fellow attorneys general and President Trump’s administration to demand immediate action to close this loophole and protect American lives. South Carolina will not sit back while drug cartels poison our families."

Data indicates a significant increase in imports under the Entry Type 86 program, jumping from 153 million in 2015 to over 1.2 billion in 2024. This surge fuels fears about the potential influx of fentanyl and other dangerous drugs. Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid, is substantially more potent than heroin and morphine, with just two milligrams being potentially lethal.

Shippers sometimes exploit the program to evade regulations and duties, which poses risks related to security and illegal trade, according to the letter.

Wilson's move aligns with attorneys general from Kentucky, Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, West Virginia, and Wyoming, led by Kentucky.

The letter is available for public viewing.