How does fentanil in the United States enter?

President Donald Trump has imposed radical tariffs on Chinese products, citing Beijing’s lack of failure to stop the export of chemicals used in the production of the powerful opioid fentanyl.

The United States has long accused Chinese corporations of supplying groups involved in the creation of drugs. Beijing has responded with own tariffs.

The White House also accused Canada and Mexico of not preventing criminal gangs from entering fentanil in the United States.

Trump had planned tariffs against both countries, but suspended that threat after winning some concessions on the increase in border security.

Fentanyl is a synthetic drug manufactured from a combination of chemicals. American regulators approved it for use in medical environments as analgesics in the 1960s, but since then it has become the main medication responsible for opioid overdose deaths in the United States.

More than 74,000 Americans died in 2023 after taking drug mixtures containing fentanyl, According to the US disease control centers (CDC)..

It is often mixed with other illicit drugs, which leads many users not to know that the substances they are consumed contain fentanyl.

Only a dose of two milligrams of fentanil, approximately the size of a pencil tip, can be fatal.

During the last decade, the Fentanyl Global Supply Chain has expanded, which makes it difficult to control the application of the law and political leaders.

China is the main source of precursor chemicals used to produce fentanil.

Since September, 4,500 lb (2,040 kg) of fentanil in the United States have been seized, according to Figures published by US Customs and Border Patrol (CBP).

Almost all (98%) were intercepted on the southwest border with Mexico. Less than 1% were seized on the border of the northern United States with Canada. The rest was sea routes or other US control points.

According to the United States Drug Control Agency (DEA), Mexican criminal organizations, including the Sinaloa cartel – Play a key role in fentanyl production and deliverymethamphetamine and other illicit drugs in the United States.

The chemicals used to make fentanyl are obtained from China by traffickers and become the product finished in laboratories in Mexico before being introduced to smuggling in the United States.

According to the DEA, the Sinaloa poster uses a variety of tactics to hide shipments that arrive in Mexico, such as hiding chemicals between legitimate commercial goods, labeled containers, using frontal companies and shipping through third -party countries.

The Trump administration accused the Mexican government of collauding with drug cartels. The president of Mexico, Sheinbaum, says that the statements are “slander.”

In December, shortly after Trump threatened Mexico with tariffs, the country’s security forces announced their greatest seizure of fentanyl, equivalent to around 20 million doses.

In 2019, China classified fentanyl as a controlled narcotic and then added some of the chemicals used to reach the list.

Despite this, the trade of other chemicals involved in the manufacture of fentanyl, some of which may have legitimate purposes, remain not controlled, since those involved in trade find new ways of evading the law.

A review of several American accusations, which include details of undercover agents that communicate with Chinese manufacturers, suggests that some chemical companies in China have been selling chemicals, including controlled, knowing that they are destined to make fentanil.

Dozens of accusations reviewed by BBC verify detailed instances in which Chinese manufacturers have provided instructions on how to make fentanyl from products that sell, through encrypted platforms and cryptocurrency payments.

“Therefore, it has these massive lagoons in which criminals participate in the sale of legal products, but they sell them to criminal entities,” says Vanda Felbab-Brown, senior member of foreign policy at the Brookings Institute.

In a statement, China said it had some of the strictest drug laws in the world and had carried out joint operations with the United States in the past.

“The United States needs to see and solve its own fentanyl problem,” he said.

And while China remains the main source of the chemicals used to make fentanyl, the Dea has also identified India as an important emerging source For these chemicals.

In an accusation of the United States since January 2025, two chemical companies in India were accused of supplying the chemicals used to make the United States and Mexico.

President Trump accused Canada, together with Mexico, of allowing “a large number of people between and fentanil between” to the United States.

According to the data of the Customs and the US border patrol American border with Mexico.

But in January, the Canadian Financial Intelligence Agency reported that the criminal groups organized in Canada are increasingly involved in fentanyl production Importing chemicals used to make laboratory and laboratory equipment in China.

Fentanyl trade takes place in both directions. In the first 10 months of 2024, the Canadian border service reported that it seized 10.8 lb (4.9 kg) of fentanyl that entered from the USA. UU., While the border patrol of the United States intercepted 32.1 lb (14.6 kg) of fentanyl from Canada.

In December, the country promised C $ 1.3 billion ($ 900 million; £ 700m) for combating fentanyl and improving border security.

Additional reports by Lucy Gilder.