Shocking Revelations at Washington Press Conference: US Citizens are the Main Culprits Behind Fentanyl Smuggling, Says Mexican Ambassador. Why is this Deadly Opioid Crossing Borders, and How Can We Stop It? Stay tuned as we unfold a major diplomatic dialogue that could redefine the battle lines in the war against fentanyl, a potent drug that has claimed over 70,000 lives in the US alone last year. Get the inside scoop on Mexico’s action plan, the astounding work they’ve done so far, and why they are demanding cooperation from the Biden Administration and China.
In a Washington press conference held on Friday, Esteban Moctezuma, the Mexican ambassador to the United States, disclosed that most of the fentanyl seizures at the border involve American citizens, not immigrants. He emphasized that the task of combating the fentanyl crisis must be shared by both countries.
Moctezuma shared that about 85% of the fentanyl seizures made by the U.S. Office of Customs and Border Protection (CBP) at the border involved American citizens as traffickers. “The burden of responsibility is on both nations,” he stated in his dialogue with the US ambassador to Mexico, Ken Salazar.
Moctezuma praised Mexico’s efforts in curbing the entry of Asian-sourced chemicals used for drug production. As evidence of these measures, he cited the Navy’s increased supervision of Mexican ports and President Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s letter to China’s President, Xi Jinping, urging increased cooperation.
“Substantial results are evident. The seizures of substances associated with methamphetamine and fentanyl production have significantly increased, most of which originate from outside Mexico,” he remarked.
Fentanyl, a potent synthetic opioid, is allegedly produced by Mexican cartels using Chinese chemicals, and subsequently trafficked into the United States. According to US reports, the drug claimed over 70,000 lives last year due to overdoses.
Despite the Biden Administration’s insistence that Mexico should enhance its efforts to combat the drug, President López Obrador has questioned the extent of fentanyl production within Mexico, although numerous illicit labs have been taken down under his administration.
Addressing the press, US ambassador Ken Salazar acknowledged the severity of the fentanyl crisis in the US, leading to the establishment of a global coalition against this opioid. While Mexico has become part of this coalition, China has refrained from joining.
“Fighting fentanyl is a challenging task and necessitates collaboration between the US, Mexico, and China, the latter being the primary source of precursor chemicals,” Salazar noted.
He added that the Biden Administration has reacted positively to Mexico’s call to curb US arms trafficking into the Latin American nation. “In regards to arms trafficking, we’re witnessing a historic milestone. We’ve never reached this point before,” he added, pointing to the recent legislation that categorizes arms trafficking as a “serious crime”.
Shocking Revelations at Washington Press Conference: US Citizens are the Main Culprits Behind Fentanyl Smuggling, Says Mexican Ambassador. Why is this Deadly Opioid Crossing Borders, and How Can We Stop It? Stay tuned as we unfold a major diplomatic dialogue that could redefine the battle lines in the war against fentanyl, a potent drug that has claimed over 70,000 lives in the US alone last year. Get the inside scoop on Mexico's action plan, the astounding work they've done so far, and why they are demanding cooperation from the Biden Administration and China.
