US Government Unveils Strategy to Target Legal Goods Linked to Illegal Fentanyl Trade

The U.S. government has unveiled a new strategy to target legal goods associated with the illegal fentanyl trade in an effort to combat the ongoing overdose crisis. The plan involves collaboration between U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the postal service, logistic companies, and other agencies to share information and disrupt the supply chain of fentanyl and other synthetic drugs. Legal goods such as molds, presses, and chemicals used in fentanyl production will be targeted. The strategy will initially focus on the San Diego corridor and expand to other cities. The Biden administration has also recently announced indictments and sanctions against Chinese companies involved in importing precursor chemicals for synthetic opioids. Fentanyl, the deadliest drug in the U.S., is primarily sourced from Mexico and China, with China being the main supplier of precursor chemicals.