By Natalia Rueda 
The Colombian drug market is being hit hard by a new, deadly drug – fentanyl – and it is taking the country by storm. Fentanyl, an opioid used clinically for anesthesia and to control chronic pain, is being mixed in Colombia with other drugs, such as heroin, 2CB (tusi), and other synthetic pills, to increase its potency and lethality.
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) reports that it was only a matter of time until fentanyl infiltrated Colombia. Recently, the Anti-narcotics Directorate of the National Police and the Prosecutor’s Office did a major bust to seize 300 ampoules of the drug. This is considered to be the largest drug seizure in the country in recent years.
Unfortunately, the drug traffickers are managing to get away with smaller doses due to the absence of an efficient law enforcement system. This makes it easier to sell on the black market. The sheer strength of the drug often lures addicts to use fentanyl, leading to more overdoses and deaths. In recent years, many countries, including the US, have reported alarming numbers of fatal overdose cases due to fentanyl abuse.
The Colombian government needs to take decisive action in order to keep the general public safe. Stringent laws need to be enforced, with appropriate punishment, to stem the tide of this lethal drug. Drug enforcement operations must be strengthened to remove fentanyl from the streets and corruption must be combated in order to ensure that drug traffickers are brought to justice.
In spite of the dangers of fentanyl, it is still in high demand due to its strong effect and shorter duration of action. As long as drug dealers are able to move it, the lives of citizens are in danger. The Colombian government must, therefore, take urgent action to contain the proliferation of fentanyl and protect its citizens.
With information from El Colombiano