How does Fntanil enter the United States?

President Donald Trump imposed a comprehensive tariff on Chinese goods, noting that Beijing's failure to stop exporting chemicals used in the production of strong opium fentanel.

The United States has long accused Chinese companies of supplying groups intentionally in creating the drug. Beijing retreated with its definitions.

The White House also accused Canada and Mexico of failing to prevent criminal gangs from smuggling fentanel into the United States.

Trump had planned definitions against these two countries, but he suspended this threat after winning some concessions to increase border security.

Fintanel is an artificial drug made of a group of chemicals. American organizers have agreed to use in medical environments as a pain reliever in the 1960s, but since then it has become the main medicine responsible for an overdose of opioids in the United States.

More than 74,000 Americans died in 2023 after eating drug mixtures containing fentanel, According to the United States Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

It is often mixed with other illegal medications, which leads to many users who are unaware that the materials they consume contain fentanel.

Less than a milligram of fentanel – about the size of the pencil tip – can be fatal.

Over the past decade, the Global Ventanil Supply Series have expanded, making it difficult to implement law and policymakers.

China is the main source of chemicals for the anti -fentanel production.

Since September, 4,500 pounds (2040 kg) of fentanel have been seized in the United States. The numbers published by the customs and borders of the United States (CBP).

Almost all (98 %) were intercepted on the southwestern border with Mexico. Low -1 % across the northern American border with Canada has been seized. The rest was from the sea or other American checkpoints.

According to the US Narcotics Agency (DeA), Mexican criminal organizations – including Sendo Cartel – It plays a major role in the production and introduction of fentanelMethamphetamine and other illegal drugs in the United States.

The chemicals used to make fentanels are obtained from China by travelers and turned into the final product in laboratories in Mexico before they are smuggled into the United States.

According to Dea, Sinaloa Cartel uses a variety of tactics to hide coming shipments to Mexico, such as hiding chemicals between legitimate commercial commodities, containing containers, using front companies, and shipping across third -party countries.

The Trump administration accused the Mexican government of collusion with drug gangs. Mexico President Shinbom says the allegations are “famous”.

In December, shortly after Trump's threat to Mexico, the country's security forces announced the largest confiscation of fentanel – equivalent to about 20 million doses.

In 2019, China classified fentanel as a tight drug and later added some chemicals used to make it to the list.

Nevertheless, trade in other chemicals involved in the manufacture of fentanel – which some can have legitimate purposes – do not control them, as those involved in trade find new ways to evade the law.

A review of many American accusations, which include the details of the secret agents who communicate with Chinese manufacturers, indicate that some chemical companies in China were selling chemicals – including those that are controlled – knowing that they are aimed at making fentanel.

Dozens of accusations reviewed by the BBC are achieving the details of the details in which Chinese manufacturers provided instructions on how to make fentanel from the products they sell, through encrypted platforms and cryptocurrency payments.

“So you have these huge gaps as criminals participate in selling legal products, but they intentionally sell them to criminal entities,” says Vanda Felbab-Brown, a great foreign policy colleague at the Brookings Institute.

In a statement, China said it has some of the world's most stronger drugs in the world and has conducted joint operations with the United States in the past.

“The United States needs to be displayed and resolved by its Fintanel issue,” she said.

While China remains the main source of chemicals used to make fentanel, The Narcotics Control Department has also identified India as an emerging main source For this chemicals.

In an indictment in the United States from January 2025, two chemical companies in India were accused of providing chemicals used to make fentanel to the United States and Mexico.

President Trump accused Canada – along with Mexico – of allowing “huge numbers of people of attendance and fentanel to attend” to the United States.

According to data from the customs patrol and US borders, only about 0.2 % of all fentanels enter the United States on the Canadian border, where almost all the rest is confiscated on the American border with Mexico.

But in January, the Canadian Financial Intelligence Agency reported that the organized criminal groups in Canada are It is increasingly involved in the production of fentanel By importing chemicals used to make them and laboratory equipment from China.

Trade in fentanel takes place in both directions. In the first ten months of 2024, the Canadian border service was reported that 10.8 pounds (4.9 kg) of fentanel entered from the United States, while the American border patrol intercepted 32.1 lb (14.6 kg) from Fintanel coming from Canada.

In December, the country pledged $ 1.3 billion (900 million dollars; 700 million pounds) to combat fentanel and enhance border security.

Additional reports by Lucy Gilder.