micrograms — which would result in death upon consumption — are needed to yield profits.
Data from a DEA press release revealed Mexican cartels have been smuggling drugs like fentanyl, alone or mixed with heroin, over America’s southwest border.
In 2015, the DEA achieved a major victory when it seized over 200 pounds of synthetic opioids in Mexico, up from just eight pounds in 2014.
China, in response to overseas pressure, criminalized 116 chemicals from various pharmacological classes, including fentanyl derivatives, in October 2015. And during last year’s G-20 Summit in Arlington, Virginia, President Barack Obama and President Xi Jinping met to address the illegal trafficking of fentanyl and other synthetic opioids from China.
The key takeaways from the meeting were more scrutiny by China on its unregulated exports that are controlled in the U.S., and improved communication between the U.S. and China to provide lists and samples of these controlled substances.
Author: Justin Kravcik
Justin Kravcik is a reporter for Addiction Now who covers breaking news. He previously worked as a reporter for Orange County Culture Magazine, where he covered human interest stories across Orange County. He also worked as a marketing copywriter for a Newport Beach-based law firm, where he wrote articles on current events and education. Contact Justin at justink@drugaddictionnow.com.
