The global opioid epidemic has had devastating consequences on communities around the world, with the United States especially hard hit. Now, drug cartels are taking advantage of lax international regulations to expand production and trafficking of a particularly dangerous form of synthetic opioid: fentanyl.
The Sinaloa Cartel, one of the main drug traffickers responsible for the production and distribution of fentanyl in Mexico, has recently moved its operations to Colombia. In March, the Colombian National Police detained two people linked to the cartel faction known as “Los Chapitos,” led by the sons of notorious drug lord Joaquín ‘El Chapo’ Guzmán.
The cartel has reportedly been exploring two different methods to acquire fentanyl in Colombia: the diversion of legally used fentanyl from the country’s hospitals for illicit purposes and the illegal importation of the drug from China.
This new development is the result of increased US government pressure on the Mexican government to combat the dangerous and lucrative illicit drug trade. The US has long viewed Mexico as the main source of fentanyl trafficking, as the country’s proximity to the US border and weak border security make it a desirable destination for drug traffickers.
The Colombian government has yet to find a fentanyl drug laboratory in the country, though it has seized more than 122 grams of 4-Anilo-phenethylpiperidone, a precursor chemical used in clandestine laboratories to produce the deadly opioid. This suggests that while there is consumption of fentanyl in Colombia, there is still no production.
The spread of fentanyl production and trafficking to Latin America is concerning, as the region is already battling the opioid epidemic. In the United States alone, more than 71,000 overdose deaths related to synthetic opioids were reported in 2021. It is imperative that Latin American governments take action to address the spread of fentanyl and that international cooperation on the issue be increased to effectively combat the opioid crisis.