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The devastating impact of synthetic opioid overdoses, particularly involving fentanyl, has reached alarming heights in the United States. With nearly 75,000 deaths in the last year alone, the drug has become a top killer among Americans aged 18 to 45. But how did we get here, and what can be done to combat this crisis? Our in-depth investigation reveals the intricate global network behind the manufacturing and distribution of this deadly substance.
Fentanyl was first developed in 1960 by Belgian chemist Paul Jansen as a revolutionary pain management tool. Its potency made it a staple in operating rooms worldwide. However, it wasn't until the mid-90s that fentanyl began to appear on American streets, closely tied to the prescription opioid addiction epidemic. As regulators clamped down on overprescription, users turned to illicit drugs, and fentanyl's presence skyrocketed, leading to massive overdoses and deaths.
After 2019, when China cracked down on illicit exports of fentanyl, a gap in the market emerged. Mexican cartels stepped in, producing the drug using precursor chemicals and smuggling it into the United States. This shift highlights the adaptability and resilience of criminal networks in the face of regulatory efforts.
In early 2022, we embarked on a year-long exploration of the global network that transports drug-making chemicals and equipment from China to buyers overseas. Using just $3,600 and a cell phone, we discovered how easy it was to purchase the materials needed to produce millions of fentanyl pills and have them delivered to North America.
Contrary to our initial assumptions that such transactions would occur on the dark web, we found that sellers were brazen, operating openly on search engines like Google. We placed orders for fentanyl precursor chemicals using encrypted messaging apps like WhatsApp and Telegram, and to our surprise, every order was successfully delivered, often mislabeled to bypass customs.
The ease with which we obtained these chemicals raises critical questions about the effectiveness of current regulatory measures. Each time regulators crack down on one precursor, manufacturers simply shift to another, staying one step ahead. This agility poses a significant challenge for authorities, who must match or exceed the speed of criminal networks.
Our investigation also revealed that fentanyl precursor chemicals have legitimate uses, making it difficult to tightly regulate them without impacting legitimate industries. Both U.S. and Chinese officials recognize this dilemma, acknowledging the need to balance public safety with economic considerations.
The U.S. has been pressing China to increase investigations and prosecutions of chemical companies involved in the fentanyl trade. While some progress has been made, the challenge remains significant. Diplomatic solutions are in the works, but the effectiveness of these efforts remains to be seen.
Our investigation serves as a stark reminder of the ease with which fentanyl can be produced and distributed. It's a call to action for governments to focus on both the supply and demand sides of this crisis, to save thousands of lives each year. Stay tuned for our full investigation on rogers.com.
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