At 50 times the strength of heroin, small amounts of fentanyl can go a long way; 2 milligrams – just several flecks of the white powdered substance – is enough to kill an adult. Fentanyl can be shipped directly to the US from China through the mail in small, difficult to detect but highly profitable batches. In addition, the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) says, fentanyl enters cities like Philadelphia via Mexico, where cartels handle ready-made fentanyl from China (or create the substance from fentanyl precursors produced in China) before smuggling them into the US through ports of entry.
China’s role in the outbreak of the deepening US fentanyl crisis – which, along with fentanyl derivatives, killed almost 30,000 Americans in 2017 – was thrust into the spotlight last month.
China’s role in the outbreak of the deepening US fentanyl crisis – which, along with fentanyl derivatives, killed almost 30,000 Americans in 2017 – was thrust into the spotlight last month.
