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WASHINGTON (AP) — A vital component in the United States’ strategy to tackle the crisis of fentanyl trafficking is a lesser-known research facility located in northern Virginia. This lab is focused on analyzing confiscated narcotics and gathering intelligence to effectively disrupt the supply chain.
On Tuesday, Attorney General Pam Bondi visited the Drug Enforcement Administration lab to engage with chemists who play a crucial role in understanding the sophisticated methods used by drug cartels to manufacture substances that cross the U.S.-Mexico border.
Senior DEA research chemist David Guthrie explained to Bondi the ongoing efforts to analyze and reverse-engineer the techniques employed by these cartels. “Our objective is to dissect and understand new developments as they arise. We need to determine if they’ve altered their production methods or incorporated new ingredients,” he stated.
Dressed in a blue DEA lab coat, Bondi underscored the significance of spotlighting the administration’s priority to counter the illicit supply of fentanyl, which is linked to numerous overdose fatalities annually.
During her tour, the chemists demonstrated how swiftly cartels can create fentanyl and shared insights about their proactive measures to identify emerging compounds that can assist law enforcement in preventing illicit drugs from reaching communities.
“This straightforward production method is alarming,” Bondi remarked after witnessing a pill press, seized by authorities, that can generate up to 15,000 pills per hour.
The Trump administration has intensified its efforts against violent drug cartels and organized crime, recently charging a prominent member of Tren de Aragua in Colombia with terrorism charges earlier this month.
The White House has also connected the fentanyl crisis to presidential tariffs, indicating that President Trump is seeking to ensure that Mexico, Canada, and China fulfill their commitments to curb illegal immigration and the influx of dangerous drugs into the United States.
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Source
www.yahoo.com