As of recently, the U.S Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has warned citizens of the sharp increase in Fentanyl smuggling. Fentanyl is a potent synthetic opioid provided for severe pain relief and anesthesia. Drug traffickers have begun to utilize this drug because of its cheapness and its potential to be highly addictive. Fentanyl has been proven to be 50 times more potent than heroin and 100 times more potent than morphine. Many traffickers have begun to lace their drugs, ultimately bringing in a reoccurring stream of addicted customers.

The commercial flow of fentanyl has had two main spikes, one in 2014 and one beginning in 2019 till now. While China and Mexico are the primary sources of this drug, India has begun its entrance into the fentanyl smuggling world. Fentanyl is mainly flowing into the U.S in powdered form, specifically through heroin or being pressed into a range of pills. Due to the extreme amount of production held in China for the sake of the United States, it has become difficult to locate the exact origins of their smuggling. However, evidence has been provided by the Mexican Transnational Criminal Organizations (TCOs) that the main form of fentanyl smuggling is across the Mexican and United States border. With drugs provided by not only Mexico but also India through overseas trade and transport. Evidence of this follows the recent spike in fentanyl seizures at the Mexican-American border.

The flow of Fentanyl to the United States in the future will diversify due to the regulations being placed on chemical and Fentanyl suppliers. China is also cracking down on smuggling by implementing regulations in drug facilities as well as their transport. This not only affects the forms of fentanyl provided by China but also Mexico and India. TCO’s fentanyl and fentanyl precursor chemical supply chains are now being operated with significant ramifications. Due to the heightened smuggling crisis on the Mexican American border Mexican TCOs will take on a larger role in the locations of cartels and fentanyl supply within them shortly.

This especially impacts United States citizens as it may decrease the death toll to fentanyl through prescription drugs as well as drugs such as heroin and morphine. Providing knowledge on how these drugs are smuggled and where will allow citizens the knowledge of cautiousness in this realm. Although as regulations continue fentanyl may be smuggled in other forms or other objects. Because of this, American citizens must be wary of consumption by products provided by these countries, especially through Adderall, Xanax, and Oxycodone. Overall, all must be cautious of the fentanyl epidemic as this currently affects unsuspected victims, even children and teenagers like ourselves.