Cartel’s manufacturing-distribution judgment with Chinese ingredients
Joint response between the two countries fighting over drugs
70,000 deaths per year from misuse of fentanyl
Powerful and inexpensive, preferred by young people
The United States and Mexico, which were in conflict over drug policy, joined hands to prevent the spread of fentanyl, which is called the ‘drug of death’ and ‘zombie drug’. The United States is the world’s largest drug consumer and Mexico is a major drug supplier, so there have been frequent clashes over drug policies. However, they formed a consensus that China, a key supplier of fentanyl raw materials, must be blocked, and started a joint response to the ‘war on drugs’ originating from China.
The United States, which kills 70,000 people a year due to misuse and abuse of fentanyl, believes that fentanyl is produced by a Mexican drug cartel based on chemicals supplied from China. Distribution and manufacturing are done in Mexico, but raw materials come from China. Mexico also sent a letter to Chinese President Xi Jinping last month asking for fentanyl control.
Because of this, fentanyl-based synthetic drugs are now called ‘China White’ in slang in the United States. Analysts are raised that fentanyl could emerge as a detonator for a new conflict between the US and China if the two countries strengthen cooperation on pressure on China.
At a press conference on the 10th, Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador announced that he would discuss cooperation between the two countries, saying, “A government official will visit the United States this week to discuss measures against fentanyl.”
Leftist President Obrador, who took office in 2018, initially expressed disapproval of the US policy of cracking down on drug suppliers in Mexico. He said that reducing drug demand in the United States is the first priority, arguing that “the fentanyl problem in the United States is due to family breakdown.” The United States showed resentment towards him. Some members of the opposition Republican Party even introduced a bill in January authorizing the use of military force to stop the supply of fentanyl to Mexican drug cartels.
The reason why these two countries joined hands is interpreted as the attitude of the Chinese government, which is a major supplier of drug raw materials, but remains silent. The Chinese Foreign Ministry said on the 6th, “The root cause of the US drug problem lies in the US. Strengthen domestic oversight and take steps to reduce demand.”
However, President Obrador showed an uncomfortable expression at the conference on the 10th, saying that he had not received any reply even though he had sent a letter to President Xi. He said, “If China doesn’t produce fentanyl raw materials, where does it come from? I can definitely say no to Mexico,” he criticized China.
In powder form, fentanyl is easy to mix with other drugs, powerful, and relatively inexpensive. With only 4-8g, one adult can use it for a year, so it is especially preferred by young Americans.
However, the risk of death is high enough for an adult to take even a small amount of about 2 mg. The name “zombie drug” comes from the frequent sightings of people staggering with their brains damaged by overdosing on fentanyl.
According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) last year, misuse of fentanyl is the number one cause of death in Americans aged 18 to 49. At least 70,000 people a year die from it. The proportion of deaths attributed to various drug-related deaths, presumably due to a fentanyl overdose, also soared from 17.5% in 2015 to 68.3% last year.
US President Joe Biden said in April of last year, “We will reduce the supply of fentanyl and expand drug addiction treatment and rehabilitation projects.” He announced that he would start a war against the “overdose epidemic” by cracking down on online drug sales.
Nevertheless, recently, to increase the duration of the effect of fentanyl, even a new drug mixed with ‘xylazine’, a sedative for animals, is being pampered. The Biden administration believes that Xylazine is also being manufactured by Chinese distributors. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced in February that it would regulate the illegal import of xylazine without a prescription.
Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.