The Montana Department of Justice (MTDOJ) and Billings Police Department (BPD) are alerting residents of Yellowstone County about an increased presence of the deadly synthetic opioid carfentanil.
The warning follows a significant seizure by the Eastern Montana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force, which confiscated 5,300 pills suspected of being trafficked into Montana from out of state. Laboratory testing confirmed the pills contained carfentanil—a synthetic opioid used to tranquilize elephants and approximately 100 times more potent than fentanyl and 10,000 times stronger than morphine. Typically, carfentanil seizures involve only one or two pills, making this seizure unusually large.
Attorney General Austin Knudsen emphasized the extreme danger of the substance. “These drugs are extremely dangerous and one pill can kill,” he said. “I appreciate law enforcement’s efforts and hard work to get these drugs off our streets and save the lives of Montanans.”
So far in 2025, the State Crime Lab has tested nine separate seizures that contained carfentanil. Seven of those originated from agencies in Yellowstone County, with the remaining two requested by police departments in Bozeman and Great Falls. In May, MTDOJ and BPD issued a similar warning following another large carfentanil seizure.
Carfentanil can appear in various forms, including powder, tablets, blotter paper, patches, and sprays, and can be absorbed through the skin or accidentally inhaled. Authorities strongly urge residents to never use pills or prescription drugs not prescribed to them, and to avoid touching unknown substances without protective equipment.
Signs of a possible overdose include:
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Constricted “pinpoint” pupils
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Falling asleep or loss of consciousness
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Slow or shallow breathing
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Choking or gurgling sounds
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Limp body
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Pale, blue, or cold skin
Residents are encouraged to have naloxone on hand. For more information, visit DPHHS Naloxone Resources