The Lethal Rise of Fentanyl: Inside the Drug Cartels and the Opioid Epidemic

💀Fentanyl is a highly potent synthetic opioid that is 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine.

💰Mexican drug cartels produce large quantities of fentanyl using precursor chemicals smuggled from China, generating millions of dollars in profits.

🌎Fentanyl is a global problem, with its production and distribution networks spanning across Mexico, the United States, and other countries.

🚑The opioid epidemic fueled by fentanyl has led to a surge in overdose deaths and a public health crisis in the United States.

🔒Law enforcement faces significant challenges in combating the illicit fentanyl trade due to the complex and sophisticated operations of drug cartels.

What is fentanyl?

—Fentanyl is a highly potent synthetic opioid that is used medically for pain relief but is also produced illicitly and sold as a street drug.

How is fentanyl produced?

—Fentanyl is produced by Mexican drug cartels, who smuggle precursor chemicals from China and use them to manufacture the drug in secret labs.

What are the dangers of fentanyl?

—Fentanyl is extremely potent and can cause overdose and death, even in small doses. Its misuse and abuse have contributed to a significant increase in overdose deaths in recent years.

How widespread is the fentanyl crisis?

—The fentanyl crisis is a global issue, with the United States being particularly affected. However, the production and distribution networks of fentanyl extend beyond borders and impact many countries.

What is being done to combat the fentanyl epidemic?

—Efforts to combat the fentanyl epidemic include law enforcement operations targeting drug cartels, public health initiatives to raise awareness and provide access to treatment, and international cooperation to disrupt the illicit fentanyl trade.

00:00Fentanyl, a drug 50 times stronger than heroin, is fueling a deadly drug crisis in the United States.

05:32Mexican drug cartels produce large quantities of fentanyl using precursor chemicals smuggled from China.

09:38Fentanyl production is centered in Mexico, with labs spread across the state of Sinaloa.

12:23Tijuana serves as a key hub for the export of fentanyl to the United States and other countries.

14:26Tijuana is plagued by gang violence and the drug trade, with cartels fighting for control of the lucrative fentanyl market.