Halloween warning: police urge caution around fentanyl and counterfeit pills

COACHELLA VALLEY, Calif. (KESQ) - As Halloween parties approach, law enforcement is warning about the dangers of fentanyl and counterfeit prescription pills.

Desert Hot Springs Police Lieutenant Saucier and Amber Royer, founder of Out of the Ashes, are urging people to avoid taking pills that weren't prescribed to them.

According to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), lab testing shows 16% of pills containing fentanyl have a potentially lethal dose.

The DEA seized more than 47 million counterfeit pills in 2025, along with nearly 10,000 pounds of fentanyl powder. Those pill seizures represented more than 369 million potentially lethal doses, according to the agency.

Stay with KESQ News Channel 3 for the latest updates.