Washington Post Torn Apart Over ‘Mysterious’ Reporting on Fentanyl Seizures

The Washington Post is facing backlash from White House officials and conservative leaders after publishing an article over the weekend suggesting the recent sharp decline in fentanyl seizures at the U.S.-Mexico border is “mysterious.”

The article, titled “The mysterious drop in fentanyl seizures on the U.S.-Mexico border” by Mary Beth Sheridan, the Post’s Mexico and Central America correspondent, examined why fentanyl seizures in 2025 have dropped significantly compared to the same time last year.

Citing data from U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Sheridan noted that monthly fentanyl seizures averaged 1,700 pounds in 2024.

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So far in 2025, the average has fallen to just 746 pounds. Rather than attributing the decline to policy changes, the article questioned why seizures would be down despite the increase in U.S. enforcement at the border.

Sheridan wrote, “The decline is occurring even as the Trump administration has deployed thousands of troops to the border and expanded drone flights. With more boots on the ground, you’d think seizures would go up — not down.”

The White House responded directly to the article, dismissing the premise as disconnected from reality.

In a statement to Breitbart News, White House Press Secretary Abigail Jackson said, “The drop in fentanyl seizures at the border is only a mystery to Washington Post reporters suffering from Trump-Derangement Syndrome. Everyone else knows the simple truth: President Trump closed our border to illegal drug traffickers and Americans are safer because of it.”

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Jackson added that by March 2025, fentanyl trafficking at the southern border had dropped by more than half compared to March 2024, a shift she linked directly to the administration’s border security measures.

https://t.co/uLM3GCws1o pic.twitter.com/1sEPYRq3nv

— Abigail Jackson (@ATJackson47) June 2, 2025

President Donald Trump’s approach to the southern border has included deploying active-duty military personnel, expanding surveillance capabilities, and implementing stricter enforcement procedures.

These measures have coincided with a 95 percent reduction in illegal border crossings from April 2024 to April 2025, according to CBP data.

White House Communications Director Stephen Cheung also criticized the article, posting on X, “The Washington ComPost clearly suffers from Trump Derangement Syndrome. They can’t stand that President Trump’s strong border policies have led to a DECREASE in fentanyl coming into the U.S.”

The Washington ComPost clearly suffers from Trump Derangement Syndrome.

They can’t stand that President Trump’s strong border policies have led to a DECREASE in fentanyl coming into the U.S. pic.twitter.com/iJU4D5LUjq

— Steven Cheung (@StevenCheung47) June 1, 2025

White House Communications Director Karoline Leavitt echoed that sentiment, calling the newspaper “pathetic” in her public comments.

.@washingtonpost is pathetic https://t.co/QtURLq1gYm

— Karoline Leavitt (@PressSec) June 2, 2025

The Department of Homeland Security also weighed in on the matter through its official X account, pushing back on the idea that the decline in fentanyl seizures is inexplicable.

“It’s no mystery. On day one, [President] Trump closed our borders to drug traffickers. From March 2024 to March 2025 fentanyl traffic at the southern border fell by 54%,” DHS stated. “The world has heard the message loud and clear.”

It’s no mystery. On day one, @POTUS Trump closed our borders to drug traffickers. From March 2024 to March 2025 fentanyl traffic at the southern border fell by 54%.

The world has heard the message loud and clear. pic.twitter.com/7RJVY8ISwS

— Homeland Security (@DHSgov) June 2, 2025

The ongoing drop in fentanyl seizures and illegal crossings marks a stark contrast to the policies and outcomes under Joe Biden, whose approach to border enforcement drew consistent criticism from conservatives for contributing to record-breaking levels of drug trafficking and unlawful immigration.

While The Washington Post questioned why enhanced enforcement would lead to fewer drug seizures, officials maintain that the answer lies in deterrence.

With fortified border infrastructure and a clear enforcement policy, criminal operations may be reducing attempts to cross, resulting in lower interdiction figures.

Sheridan’s article did not include statements from DHS, CBP, or White House officials defending the Trump administration’s efforts.

The drop in fentanyl seizures follows years of concern over the synthetic opioid’s impact on American communities.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have linked fentanyl to tens of thousands of overdose deaths annually in the United States.

As the White House continues to cite the data as proof of effective enforcement, administration officials say they will maintain high operational tempo at the border to prevent the resurgence of smuggling attempts.

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