Officials Warn of Public Health Crisis as 5,300 Carfentanil Pills Seized in Billings

BILLINGS — Montana health officials are sounding the alarm about a dramatic escalation in the presence of carfentanil, a synthetic opioid so potent it’s used to tranquilize elephants, following the seizure of 5,300 pills in Yellowstone County.

The Eastern Montana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force recently confiscated the massive drug haul after receiving a tip from a federal partner, marking a significant jump from typical carfentanil seizures that usually involve just one or two pills.

“This bust is just the latest in the rise of carfentanil seizures in Montana,” Attorney General Austin Knudsen said. “Remember these drugs are extremely dangerous and one pill can kill.”

Carfentanil is approximately 100 times more potent than fentanyl and 10,000 times stronger than morphine. The synthetic opioid poses an extreme risk to public safety as it can be absorbed through the skin or accidentally inhaled, making even minimal exposure potentially lethal.

Yellowstone County Emerges as Hotspot

The latest seizure reflects a disturbing regional trend. So far in 2025, Montana’s State Crime Lab has analyzed nine different seizures that tested positive for carfentanil. Seven of those requests came from agencies in Yellowstone County, with the remaining two from Bozeman and Great Falls police departments.

This marks the second major carfentanil warning for Billings this year, following a large seizure in May that prompted similar public safety alerts from the Montana Department of Justice and Billings Police Department.

The concentration of seizures in Yellowstone County suggests the area has become a key distribution point for the dangerous synthetic opioid, which typically arrives in Montana from out-of-state trafficking operations.

Immediate Dangers to Community

Health officials warn that carfentanil can appear in multiple forms including powder, blotter paper, tablets, patches, and spray. The drug’s extreme potency means that even microscopic amounts can prove fatal, creating risks not only for users but for family members, first responders, and anyone who might come into contact with contaminated surfaces.

Signs of a carfentanil overdose include:

• Small, constricted “pinpoint pupils”
• Falling asleep or loss of consciousness
• Slow, shallow breathing
• Choking or gurgling sounds
• Limp body
• Pale, blue, or cold skin

“I appreciate law enforcement’s efforts and hard work to get these drugs off our streets and save the lives of Montanans,” Knudsen said.

Safety Precautions and Resources

Officials are urging residents never to use pills or prescription drugs that haven’t been prescribed to them. If suspicious substances are found, people should avoid touching them without appropriate protective equipment and immediately contact law enforcement.

Montana’s Good Samaritan Law protects both the person calling for help and the overdose victim from drug possession charges when reporting an overdose emergency.

The state emphasizes the importance of having naloxone readily available, which can reverse opioid overdoses. Information about obtaining naloxone is available at dphhs.mt.gov/amdd/naloxone/.

Community resources for those affected by substance abuse include:

• Community Crisis Center: (406) 259-8800
• Rimrock Foundation: (406) 248-3175
• Mental Health America of Montana Warmline: 1-877-688-3377
• Montana Crisis Recovery Line: 1-877-503-0833

The massive seizure represents a significant victory for law enforcement, but officials warn that the continuing presence of carfentanil in the region requires ongoing vigilance from both law enforcement and community members to prevent these deadly substances from claiming lives.