US launches campaign against fentanyl “from Mexico”

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Newspaper La Jornada
Wednesday, September 28, 2022, p. 17

Washington. The United States seized between May and September the equivalent of 36 million doses of fentanyl, a synthetic drug introduced en masse by Mexican cartels, the Department of Justice of that country reported yesterday.

As part of the initiative One pill can kill (One Pill Can Kill) members of the administration for drug control (DEA, for its acronym in English) and other agents seized more than 10.2 million fentanyl pills and about 444.5 kilos of fentanyl powder between May 23 and September 8, which is equivalent to more than 36 million doses, details in a statement.

They also seized 338 weapons, including rifles, shotguns, pistols and hand grenades.

Of the 390 cases investigated, 51 are linked to poisoning by overdose and 35 are related to cartels Mexicans responsible for the fentanyl that enters the United States: the one from Sinaloa and Jalisco New generation (CJNG).

Additionally, 129 investigations are tied to social media platforms, including Snapchat, Facebook Messenger, Instagram and TikTok.

Across the country, fentanyl is devastating families and communities, and we know that violent and criminal drug cartels are responsible for this crisis.Attorney General and Attorney General Merrick Garland said, quoted in the statement.

“The most urgent threat to our communities, children and families is the sign of Sinaloa and the CJNG, which mass produce and supply the fentanyl that is poisoning and killing Americans,” said DEA administrator Anne Milgram.

these cartels they are ruthless criminal organizations that use deception and betrayal to generate addiction with total disregard for human lifeadded the official.

The United States is experiencing a dramatic opioid epidemic.

In 2021, 107,622 Americans died from drug intoxication or overdose, a record.

Authorities attribute 66 percent of those deaths to synthetic opioids such as fentanyl, sold by drug traffickers in a variety of shapes, sizes and bright colors, known as rainbows.

Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid 50 times more powerful than heroin. Just two milligrams, that is, the amount that would fit on the tip of a pencil, is considered a potentially lethal dose.