US Intelligence Identifies India and China in Fentanyl Crisis Amid Trump Tariff Focus

The US intelligence community identifies India along with China as contributors to fentanyl precursor supply. Fentanyl led to 52,000 US deaths in the year ending October 2024. The Trump administration emphasizes opioid crisis as a national security issue, linking fentanyl trafficking to tariffs on China and others, as fentanyl usage has surged since 2012.

For the first time, the United States intelligence community has identified India alongside China as a significant source of precursor chemicals utilized by criminal organizations for fentanyl production. The report, released by the Director of National Intelligence, indicated that fentanyl was responsible for over 52,000 fatalities among US citizens in the 12-month period concluding in October 2024. The substance continues to be classified as one of the most hazardous drugs trafficked into the country.

Previously, India had been mentioned only among several nations from which Mexican drug syndicates acquired precursor chemicals, while China had consistently been recognized as the primary supplier. The report highlights that “nonstate groups are often enabled, both directly and indirectly, by state actors, such as China and India, as sources of precursors and equipment for drug traffickers.”

This intelligence assessment coincides with former President Donald Trump’s resurgence in emphasizing the importance of addressing opioid abuse. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Secretary of the US Department of Health and Human Services, noted that despite a decline in drug-related deaths, the administration continues to approach the opioid crisis as a matter of national security.

Moreover, the NPR report mentioned that Trump has associated fentanyl smuggling with the tariffs levied against Canada, Mexico, and China. On February 1, an additional tariff of 10 percent on Chinese imports was implemented due to China’s insufficient efforts against fentanyl trafficking.

Fentanyl emerged as a major street drug in the United States around 2012, ultimately eclipsing heroin and prescription painkillers as the most perilous opioid distributed by criminal networks. During Trump’s initial term as President, fentanyl-related deaths escalated significantly, with an increase of over 30 percent in 2020 alone.

In conclusion, the recent report by the US intelligence community acknowledges both India and China as state actors in the fentanyl crisis, highlighting the significant role of precursor chemicals in drug trafficking. The Trump administration continues to prioritize the opioid crisis as a national security issue, correlating its response with trade tariffs on certain countries. Fentanyl’s dangerous rise in the US continues to be a pressing concern, necessitating robust strategies to combat this epidemic.

Original Source: www.business-standard.com