Montana AG Urges Trump to Close Drug Trafficking Loophole

Missoula, MT (KGVO-AM News) - Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen joined a coalition of 25 attorneys general in urging the Trump Administration to close a loophole used by adversaries and drug traffickers to flood deadly fentanyl into the United States. 

In a letter to U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem and Acting Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection Pete Flores, the attorneys general call for greater scrutiny of a CBP import pilot program called Entry Type 86. They say the program allows small packages to enter the U.S. with minimal customs screening.  

According to Knudsen, without diligent inspections, drug cartels and traffickers can abuse the program to bring fentanyl and other deadly drugs, like methamphetamine and cocaine, into the United States. 

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“As attorneys general responsible for protecting the safety of our constituents, we are proud to partner with President Trump and this Administration to stop the flow of illicit deadly drugs into our country and our communities,” Knudsen said. “Your focused efforts to secure the southern border are a critical step in this work. Unfortunately, however, traffickers and our foreign adversaries like China are constantly finding new ways to bring fentanyl and other poisons into our neighborhoods. We write today to ask for your help in addressing a serious loophole that is currently being exploited by those who profit off the devastation of American lives.” 

In just a 10-year period, Knudsen said imports under the Entry Type 86 program skyrocketed from 153 million packages in 2015 to over 1.2 billion in 2024, requiring further study because of serious concerns about the amount of fentanyl and other deadly drugs that could be coming into the country. 

Last year, fentanyl seizures in Montana were down from the previous year, but Knudsen said dangerous drugs are still being trafficked into the state from the southern border at concerning rates. In 2024, methamphetamine, cocaine, and heroin seizures were up in the state, and fentanyl seizures were still up 354 percent from 2021. 

READ MORE: 2024 REPORT: Surprising Drug Seizure Numbers in Montana

According to Knudsen, some shippers also use the Entry Type 86 program to dodge regulations and avoid paying required duties, raising concerns about security risks, illegal trade, and weaknesses in our supply chain. 

Click here to read the full letter from the attorneys general.