DETROIT — Agents with the U.S. Border Patrol agents seized enough fentanyl to kill nearly 500,000 people, authorities said.

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According to a news release from U.S. Customs and Border Protection, agents were alerted to a suspicious package passing through the U.S. Border Patrol Gibraltar Station near Detroit on Sept. 23.

K-9 agents confirmed the presence of narcotics, and agents noted that the package contained “a Saran-wrapped bundle” that was filled with white powder.

According to the news release, when the substance was tested it was revealed to be nearly 2.5 pounds of fentanyl. Customs officials said the amount of fentanyl recovered was enough to produce dosages that would be fatal to 500,000 people.

“Hard narcotics are a significant threat to our national security,” Robert Danley, U.S. Border Patrol Detroit Sector chief patrol agent, said in a statement. “Detroit Sector agents do all they can to stop this poison from entering our communities.”

The fentanyl was turned over to the local office of the Drug Enforcement Administration for investigation, according to the news release.

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