Seized Chinese Fentanyl Could Kill 25 Million Americans: Ken Salazar

US Ambassador Ken Salazaraffirmed that the legal actions and arrests carried out by the Department of Justice against four Chinese companies and eight subjects for alleged illegal trafficking of fentanyl prevented the deaths of 25 million Americans.

The diplomat said that only one of these companies trafficked to the US 200 kilograms of precursors linked to fentanyl, "an amount capable of producing sufficient doses to kill 25 million Americans.”

“The reality of fentanyl trafficking is changing. Its precursors are transported to the United States and Mexico. Criminals mask chemicals and change labels to avoid detection, seek to hide their money, and use social media to promote their evil product."

He added that the production of fentanyl begins with its precursors, those who sell or traffic them will be prosecuted.

Ken Salazar highlighted that the same transnational criminal organizations that traffic fentanyl they also trade weapons and people.

For this reason, he said, "cooperation with Mexico to interrupt the trafficking of fentanyl and its precursors is crucial."

In this sense, I take this opportunity to highlight the visit of President Joe Biden to Mexico earlier this year, and the two visits made by Liz Sherwood-Randall, Presidential National Security Advisor.

In addition to the dialogues established by the security teams of the EU and Mexico, to carry out the joint fight against the trafficking of fentanyl and precursors.

At the end of last May, the governments of Mexico and the US met at the National Palace to review the migratory flow, the collaboration to confront fentanyl trafficking and control arms trafficking.

“The issue of fentanyl and the progress that is being made was seen. Mexico is advancing a lot, especially the Secretary of the Navy, the national security laboratory was integrated, the issue of laboratories and working in coordination is important because crime is becoming more sophisticated every day," Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard told the media at the time. after the meeting.

Another topic that Ebrard highlighted was arms trafficking, in which he pointed out that the intention of the US government is to control the flow of long arms and pointed out that between 2020 and 2022 in Mexico 26,000 long weapons were confiscated from organized crime.

The meeting was attended by the White House National Security Adviser, Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall.

“Joint meeting on immigration with Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall, White House National Security Advisor; Ambassador Ken Salazar and other public servants of the US government. Special thanks to the governors of Chiapas, Tabasco, Oaxaca and Veracruz," López Obrador said on Twitter.