Understanding the Risks and Legalities
U.S. punitive measures, such as sanctions and drug indictments, are unlikely to change that. As was reported in “Anonymity Overdose,” following the money up from a street deal to the supplier is a time-tested investigative tool for law enforcement. Anonymous shell companies make this work all-the-more difficult by providing essentially a getaway car for drug profits. We recommended closing loopholes that allow companies to be formed with no record of who owns them, which would help law enforcement seize money from drug trafficking operations, and trace street level crime up to kingpins.
Purchasing fentanyl, particularly from foreign sources such as China, involves significant risks and legal implications. Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid that is tightly controlled in many countries due to its potential for abuse and overdose.
There is little expectation that India, provided its recent history, will keep up with China in scheduling FRS. This communicates to local Indian chemists and their Chinese collaborators that the Indian legal and regulatory regimes are either unconcerned or too gridlocked to legislate and control FRS. An empirical investigation into the current trends in fentanyl production and use in India, along with an assessment of the legal and regulatory regimes in China and India, is forwarded. A logic model approach is deployed, wherein the key inputs, processes, responses, and effects of intensified Chinese fentanyl regulation is established, and this is put into the context of fentanyl production, distribution, use, and regional public health within India. Additional legal resources and announcements were examined, specifically PRC communiqués, The Gazette of India, which publishes official legislative announcements from India, and the U.N. Reports from a variety of regulatory bodies were also reviewed, such as those from the State Council of the PRC, Ministry of Home Affairs of the Indian Government, International Narcotics Control Board (INCB), and the U.S.
- In fiscal 2017, Customs and Border Protection interdicted 118 shipments totaling 240 pounds of fentanyl from express consignment carriers and 227 seizures totaling 92 pounds from the international mail, according to recent CBP testimony to Congress.
- The year 2020 saw new highs with approximately 69,000 opioid-related deaths, 82% of which involved synthetic substances such as fentanyl.
- Non-U.S.-government briefers do not represent the official policy views of the U.S. government.
- “The Chinese government has been strictly cracking down on drug crimes… and we deploy the harshest control on precursor chemicals.
- In August 2019, more than three months after China’s class ban, the U.S. government issued an advisory warning federal agencies of continued shipments of fentanyl and other synthetic opioids, including via the U.S.
More than one million people in the United States have died of drug overdoses since 2000. Opioids, including synthetic opioids such as illicitly manufactured fentanyl, are the most deadly, killing more than 1,500 people per week and harming many more. And deaths from opioids have risen rapidly over the past decade, with a particularly sharp increase during the pandemic. Today, more people in the United States aged 18 to 49 die from fentanyl than from any other cause. While we are focused on the immense human impact, the epidemic also takes a significant toll on our economy. The U.S. Congress Joint Economic Committee estimates that in 2020, the opioid epidemic cost America nearly $1.5 trillion.
Legal Implications
Before considering how to buy fentanyl from China, it is essential to understand the legal landscape:
- Controlled Substance: Fentanyl is classified as a Schedule II controlled substance in the United States and many other countries.
- Import Regulations: Importing fentanyl or its analogs can lead to severe legal consequences, including fines and imprisonment.
- Source Legitimacy: Many online vendors may not be legitimate, leading to dangerous counterfeit products.
Unfortunately, so far, really, we don’t have effective multinational or international cooperation on drug trafficking. But perhaps at least the United States and China for the sake of restoring their relationship, for the sake of protecting the lives of their own nationals, the life of their own nationals, they are willing to take a step forward. The production and sale of OxyContin by Purdue Pharma, controlled by the Sackler family, helped spur a national crisis as opioid-related deaths skyrocketed in the late-90s and early 2000s. Today, fentanyl is hitting a U.S. market already primed for abuse by the painkiller debacle. In recent years, the Biden administration has begun to crack down on fentanyl suppliers, developing stronger counter-narcotic strategies.
In 2019, the department sanctioned three Chinese nationals accused of trafficking the synthetic opioids. U.S. law enforcement acknowledged struggling to curb this online fentanyl marketplace, in part because many of the transactions are encrypted. We still cannot get cooperation from major Internet companies, service providers, to be able to get into those devices that we know [drug cartels] are utilizing,” the DEA’s Donahue said. President Biden has made beating the overdose epidemic a key priority in his Unity Agenda for the Nation, including a focus on cracking down on global illicit drug trafficking and disrupting the flow of illicit fentanyl and its precursors.
Not Yet On China’s Banned List
Drug users can easily buy potentially lethal substances through Chinese eBay-style websites, the Guardian can reveal. We reached common understanding on the work plan for the working group,” China’s minister of public security, Wang Xiaohong, told the group. Many fentanyl labs already operate in buildings in populated neighborhoods of towns and cities where strikes would not be possible due to risks to Mexican civilians. Various U.S. lawmakers have proposed designated Mexican criminal groups as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTO).
Zhang Wei has received virtual currency payments in exchange for illicit drugs-related transactions, including for methylamine hydrochloride. Further demonstrating how the Syndicate operates, Hebei Crovell shares over a dozen phone numbers and overlapping contacts with Qingdao Cemo Technology Develop Co., LTD (青岛盛茂科技发展有限公司) (Qingdao Cemo). Qingdao Cemo sales representatives offer various substances used to make illicit drugs such as fentanyl and methamphetamine.
Health Risks
Using fentanyl can pose serious health risks, including:
- Overdose Danger: A tiny amount can lead to fatal respiratory depression.
- Addiction Potential: Fentanyl is highly addictive, causing dependency issues.
- Unknown Purity: Imported fentanyl may be adulterated with other harmful substances.
How to Approach This Topic Responsibly
Given the risks associated with acquiring fentanyl, consider these responsible approaches:
- Seek Legal Alternatives: Consult with a healthcare professional for legal medication.
- Educate Yourself: Research the effects, risks, and legal consequences of fentanyl use.
- Support Systems: Reach out to support groups for addiction if needed.
FAQs
- Is it legal to buy fentanyl online? No, buying fentanyl online from unauthorized sources is illegal and dangerous.
- What should I do if I or someone I know is struggling with opioid addiction? Seek help from a healthcare professional or a local support group.
- Are there safe alternatives for pain management? Yes, speak with healthcare providers about safer, legal pain management options.
Conclusion
Understanding how to buy fentanyl from China raises numerous ethical, legal, and health-related concerns. It is crucial to prioritize safety, legality, and health when considering any substance use. Always opt for responsible, legal avenues for medication and support.