September 16, 2025
There were a lot of things that changed following the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic, some as a direct result of the pandemic, and some just occurring at the same time as the world learned how to operate under a new normal. One of these unexpected outcomes was a sharp rise in the synthetic opioid crisis—especially fentanyl—creating an unprecedented challenge for mailroom security that was already facing challenges stemming directly from COVID-19. These dual threats forced many organizations to reevaluate and revolutionize their mail and package screening programs. At SoBran, we witnessed this transformation firsthand and chose to rise to the challenge of guiding our clients in logistics, government, and corporate sectors towards safer, more resilient mailroom practices in what we now know were truly unprecedented times.
Fentanyl and Mail Security: A Growing Threat
It’s well known that the COVID-19 pandemic dramatically reshaped the landscape of almost all facets of our everyday lives, but it had a major impact on opioid use and overdose fatalities in the United States. Widespread lockdowns, economic instability, and disruptions to medical and social services left many vulnerable individuals with fewer resources for support, harm reduction, and addiction treatment. Social isolation also greatly intensified stress, anxiety, and depression, contributing to an increase in substance use and relapse rates among those with substance use disorders.
Illicit fentanyl’s proliferation during the pandemic was exacerbated by disruptions in international supply chains, which made trafficking synthetic opioids more efficient and financially attractive compared to traditional narcotics. Dealers increasingly mixed fentanyl with other street drugs such as heroin, cocaine, and counterfeit pills, often without users’ knowledge. This practice dramatically increased the risk of fatal overdoses, as individuals were exposed to a drug 50 to 100 times stronger than morphine, often without adequate awareness or tolerance.
Even as international regulations have tightened since 2020, the threat persisted. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection reported a 90% decrease in fentanyl direct shipments from China between 2018 and 2019, but the trafficking routes shifted, and mailrooms remained vulnerable entry points. The National Institute on Drug Abuse found fentanyl infiltration in workplace drug screens soared during the pandemic, paralleling an alarming 74% spike in overdose deaths across North America in 2020.
Pandemic & Logistics: The Evolving Battlefield
Alongside the rise in fentanyl, it’s also important to acknowledge the dramatic shift in logistics operations that also were happening due to COVID-19. Heightened mail and package activity amplified the risks of hazardous substances entering workplaces and homes, with the upsurge in packages providing more opportunities for illicit drug trafficking—particularly for substances like fentanyl. Inspecting, intercepting, and safely managing suspicious mail grew more complicated with dramatically expanded flows and staffing shortages.
But of course, the health risks weren’t confined to contraband during this time. Early in the pandemic in the spring and early summer of 2020, there existed some fears of viral transmission via surfaces, including packages, leaving facilities grappling with constantly evolving guidance about SARS-CoV-2’s survivability on cardboard, plastic, and other materials. Safety protocols often changed rapidly: workers sanitized workspaces, wore gloves, and enforced physical distancing in shared areas such as loading docks and mailrooms. The combination of potential chemical, biological, and viral hazards underscored the growing need for robust safety protocols and investment in personal protective equipment (PPE). Many logistics professionals faced elevated stress, health anxieties, and the need for continual retraining. Public and private organizations responded by updating their emergency preparedness, investing in digital tracking systems, and carefully monitoring supply chain vulnerabilities.
Lessons for the Industry
If nothing else, the pandemic and the ongoing opioid epidemic taught all of us in the mail security industry one vital lesson: mail security is not–and has never been–static. The need for layered defenses in mail security is an important one, since no single method suffices under the dual threats of modern narcotics and emerging biological hazards.
Some other lessons we’ve seen during these past five years:
- Threat landscapes evolve rapidly: Security protocols (including with a facility’s mail) must be adaptable, regularly reviewed, and updated to match emerging risks and threat tactics.
- Training must be continuous: All teams and employees need regular, scenario-based exercises and up-to-date guidance to allow them to respond effectively and quickly to new hazards.
- Compliance and safety standards require active management: Staying aligned with public health directives, postal regulations, and security best practices should always be considered an ongoing process taken seriously from the top down.
- Operational agility improves resilience: The ability to quickly adjust workflows, technology use, and staffing in response to evolving conditions is critical!
- Intelligence sharing strengthens defenses: Access to real-time threat information from law enforcement, public health agencies, and security networks helps organizations detect and respond faster.
- Integration of technology and human expertise is crucial: Automated detection tools work best when paired with trained personnel who can interpret results and make informed decisions.
- Crisis readiness requires constant rehearsal – Plans for biological, chemical, or narcotics-related mail threats need regular testing and refinement through drills and simulations.
Moving Forward: The SoBran Commitment
As new health and security risks continue to emerge in our post COVID-world, all of us here at SoBran remain committed to providing the most comprehensive mailroom security process including our patented CBRNE screening and detection. Our multi-pronged approach—combining technology, training, and compliance—has proven invaluable for clients who must keep their people and operations safe.
For logistics, facilities, and security leaders, the message is clear: only a vigilant, adaptable, and expert-led program can truly rise and meet today’s challenges.