Residents Of Xi’an, China, React To COVID Lockdowns With Outrage And Humor
Understanding the Risks of Purchasing Fentanyl
In a jail holding cell, Lemus bragged he was selling up to $3,000 in drugs a day, mainly the pills, according to court records. In fiscal 2017, CBP seized 355 kilograms of fentanyl at San Diego ports of entry, accounting for 82 percent of all border crossing seizures nationwide, according to updated CBP data. There is at least one documented case of a fentanyl precursor being sent south from the United States to Mexico.
Contacted by the AP, Waynick said it listed these products to “attract clients” but doesn’t actually sell them. “The substitutes are all legal products in China. You can do any investigation.” After being named in AP’s Oct. 7 article, Jilin’s website vanished and the company said it had never actually produced carfentanil. The companies’ cheery let’s-do-business attitude changed when the AP followed up with questions about the legality of the sales.
As vast numbers of Americans are dying of fentanyl overdose and Chinese and Mexican criminal groups expand their operations around the world and into a vast array of illegal and legal economies, the United States finds itself in hollowed out and weak cooperation with both China and Mexico. Below I offer some policy implications and recommendations on how the United States can attempt to induce China and Mexico to better cooperate with U.S. counternarcotics and law enforcement objectives. I also provide suggestions for what law enforcement and policy measures the United States can undertake independently, and even if Mexico and China continue to reject robust cooperation.
Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid that has gained notoriety due to its association with the ongoing opioid crisis. While some may seek to buy fentanyl from China for legitimate medical purposes, it is crucial to understand the significant legal and health risks involved.
But the U.S. says Chinese companies are instead now selling the precursor chemicals needed to synthesize fentanyl to drug cartels in Mexico, which then move the finished product to the U.S. I have been a strong leader in fighting the fentanyl epidemic that is plaguing our communities and recognize more must be done to safeguard our communities. We will work to secure our border from the flow of illicit fentanyl and other deadly drugs, support law enforcement so they have the resources they need, and hold the dealers on the streets accountable. At the very top of this lethal food chain are bad actors in China manufacturing fentanyl and the CCP who is allowing their lethal fentanyl engine to run while it kills off thousands of Americans. The DEA led the investigations brought in both districts and used its unique authority to specially schedule protonitazene and metonitazene as Schedule I controlled substances, which was necessary as their adverse health effects, including death, pose an imminent threat to public safety. As a result of that order, the regulatory controls and administrative, civil, and criminal sanctions applicable to Schedule I controlled substances can be imposed on persons who handle or propose to handle these substances.
The findings come as the head of the National Crime Agency (NCA) told the Guardian that vast majority of the synthetic opioids coming into the UK were from China. The NCA said that most synthetic drugs, including the synthetic cannabinoid spice, came into Britain from the east Asia. To effectively counter fentanyl-smuggling actors requires a whole-of-government approach — not simply on paper, but truly in implementation.
These individuals and entities had engaged, directly or indirectly, in timeshare fraud, in which elderly Americans can be robbed of their life savings. Lower-level Mexican and American officials continue to collaborate, though not as closely as they did during the presidency of Felipe Calderón, who launched Mexico’s war on organised crime in 2006. This month Mexico’s Congress approved a strict new law mandating ten- to 15-year prison sentences for those convicted of producing fentanyl or providing precursor chemicals. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration does say that mail shipments of fentanyl from China to the U.S. have dropped dramatically since the ban.
Meanwhile, geopolitical competition between Washington and Beijing has continued to heat up, and experts are pessimistic that the two will be able to cooperate on curbing the flow of fentanyl. Its modern era has been defined by fentanyl, a synthetic opioid that is cheap to make and deadly to consume, even in small doses. Historically, the U.S. has stayed hyper-attentive to illicit drug trade happening at our southernmost border, working with Mexican officials to dismantle numerous pill pressing and smuggling operations. More than 25,000 pounds of fentanyl has been seized at the U.S.-Mexico border so far this year. To put this into perspective, just 100 pounds of fentanyl is lethal enough to kill 18 million people, which is equivalent to the entire population of New Jersey and New York City combined. Synthetic opioids are the biggest killers in the deadliest drug crisis the U.S. has ever seen.
(Right) A “menu” of chemicals provided to our researchers, including precursors for synthetic opioids, methamphetamine and amphetamine. The rate of overdose deaths from synthetic opioids, such as fentanyl was 18 times higher in 2020 than in 2013, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Other countries besides China have the capacity to supply America’s insatiable appetite for opioids.
Legality of Fentanyl Purchases
Before considering purchasing fentanyl, it is important to be aware of the laws surrounding its procurement:
- He said he’d moved on to other products in high demand in the U.S., including reagents for coronavirus testing kits and N95 respirator masks.
- “It’s an opioid that is 50 times stronger than heroin, 100 times stronger than morphine.”
- According to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), 23% of fentanyl powder and 7% of pills seized in 2022 contained xylazine.
- Female intravenous drug users in India are particularly impacted by housing and other living insecurities (86).
- Similarly, some Chinese actors smuggling fentanyl are also involved in wildlife trade and trafficking.
- Controlled Substance: Fentanyl is classified as a controlled substance in many countries, including the United States.
- Legal Consequences: Buying fentanyl without a prescription can lead to severe legal penalties, including fines and imprisonment.
- International Regulations: Importing fentanyl from other countries, including China, can violate both domestic and international drug laws.
Understanding Fentanyl’s Risks
The misuse of fentanyl can result in:
- Overdose: The potency of fentanyl makes it easy to overdose, which can lead to respiratory failure and death.
- Dependency: There is a high potential for addiction, leading to dangerous cycles of abuse.
- Adulteration: Illicitly sourced fentanyl may be mixed with other substances, increasing the risk of harmful reactions.
Alternatives to Illegal Purchases
Instead of seeking to buy fentanyl from China, consider these alternatives:
- Consult a Healthcare Provider: Always seek medical advice for pain management and discuss alternative medications.
- Explore Non-Opioid Options: There are numerous non-opioid pain relief methods available that may be safer.
- Seek Help for Addiction: If struggling with opioid use, reach out to addiction specialists for support.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is it safe to buy fentanyl online?
No, purchasing fentanyl online, especially from unverified sources, is extremely dangerous and illegal.
Can I buy fentanyl for medical reasons?
Fentanyl should only be used under a doctor’s supervision, and it is typically prescribed for severe pain management.
What should I do if I find fentanyl online?
Do not attempt to purchase it. Report any suspicious websites to local authorities for further investigation.
In summary, the allure of easy access to powerful medications like fentanyl can be misleading. The potential dangers of purchasing fentanyl, particularly from foreign sources, outweigh any perceived benefits. Prioritizing health and legal safety is paramount.
