US intel names India, China, as 'actors' enabling fentanyl trafficking
What's the story
China and India have been named as major state suppliers of precursor chemicals for the production of illicit fentanyl by the United States.
This intel was disclosed in the latest Annual Threat Assessment (ATA) report of the US Intelligence Community.
According to the report published by the office of the US Director of National Intelligence (DNI), headed by Tulsi Gabbard, these precursor chemicals are often supplied directly or indirectly by state actors like China and India.
Drug crisis
Fentanyl linked to over 55,000 US deaths
The ATA report underscores the seriousness of America's fentanyl crisis, which has been associated with more than 55,000 deaths from October 2023-September 2024.
It further names China as the main supplier of illicit fentanyl precursor chemicals and pill pressing equipment, with India closely following.
This is the first time the US has placed India on the same level as China.
Last year's report named India as one of several nations from which Mexican groups sourced chemicals to a "lesser extent."
Policy response
Trump administration's stance on fentanyl crisis
The ATA is the first report published in Donald Trump's second term.
The report includes unclassified material acquired by the American intelligence community on the most direct and serious threats to the US during the next year.
It examines various types of threats, including terrorism, weapons of mass destruction (WMDs), cyber and technology threats, biothreats, economic challenges, environmental concerns, and the utilization of natural resources.
Drug
Fentanyl is a top concern: Trump administration
Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use as a pain relief medicine and anesthetic.
It is around 100 times more potent than morphine and 50 times more potent than heroin.
During a Senate Committee on Intelligence hearing, Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR) stated that the Trump administration has raised fentanyl as a top concern, ahead of other national security threats from Iran, North Korea, and Russia.
Trade measures
Trump imposes tariffs on China, Mexico, Canada
On February 1, President Trump imposed country-specific tariffs against China, Mexico, and Canada for the continued flow of illicit fentanyl and its precursor chemicals into the US.
He accused China of subsidizing its domestic chemical companies to export fentanyl and related chemicals.
Trump tied his tariffs on Canada, China, and Mexico to his concerns about fentanyl trafficking. In an executive order, Trump labeled cartels as terrorist groups and advocated the death sentence for narcotics dealers.