Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid that is commonly used for pain management. However, it has also become a popular drug of abuse due to its potent effects. While fentanyl can be obtained through legitimate means with a prescription, there are illicit sources where individuals may seek to purchase this drug, such as from China.
Our Beijing correspondent Emily Feng looked into this with help from data collected by the Center for Advanced Defense Studies. Prosecutors said the companies – including one called Hebei Sinaloa Trading Co — advertised precursor chemicals on social media in Mexico and the U.S., and used false customs forms and mislabeled packages to ship the chemicals by boat and air. While clearly there will not be such a large mortality rate, the figures demonstrate that the fentanyl trade is extremely profitable for the drug cartels who sell the finished product, and extremely dangerous for those who consume it. In email correspondence, the suppliers highlighted that they have shipped fentanyl and fentanyl precursors to Mexico on many occasions. Specifically, the U.S. president said he and Xi would take action to stem the flow of precursor chemicals and pill presses from China to the Western Hemisphere. Given China’s recent decision to ban the unauthorized manufacture of fentanyl, authorities there appear to recognize a growing problem.
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Is it Legal to Buy Fentanyl from China?
In most countries, including the United States, it is illegal to buy fentanyl without a prescription. Purchasing fentanyl from China or any other country without a valid prescription is not only against the law but also very dangerous. The quality and potency of illicit fentanyl can vary greatly, leading to serious health risks and even overdose.
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Steps to Buy Fentanyl from China
- Research: Conduct thorough research on the websites or online platforms offering fentanyl for sale from China. Be cautious of scams and ensure the legitimacy of the source.
- Communication: Contact the seller to inquire about the product, pricing, and shipping details. Ask for any necessary documentation or certifications to ensure the authenticity of the fentanyl.
- Payment: Make payment using a secure method to protect your financial information. Avoid using untraceable forms of payment such as cryptocurrency.
- Shipping: Provide accurate shipping information and be aware of any customs regulations or restrictions regarding importing fentanyl into your country.
- Receipt and Follow-Up: Once the fentanyl has been received, verify the product’s authenticity and quality. Monitor yourself for any adverse reactions and seek medical help if needed.
This analysis of the regulatory landscape for fentanyl reveals both similarities and differences in the loopholes and inadequacies between China and India. As for the legislation landscape, both China and India have controlled two precursor chemicals used for fentanyl synthesis, NPP and 4-ANPP, and have not yet considered newly emergent alternative precursors such as 4-AP, 1-BOC-4ANPP, 1-BOC-4-Piperidone and 4,4-Piperidinediol. It’s part of the government’s effort to disrupt the global illegal drug trade and stem the opioid epidemic. That is why President Biden’s National Drug Control Strategy makes sanctions and other efforts to disrupt and dismantle these international criminal organizations a priority. Many of the online vendors contacted by ABC News claimed to operate in the area around the city of Wuhan, a hub of Chinese chemical manufacturing.
There’s also the possibility, of course, that other groups, such as Primeiro Comando da Capital, the Brazilian powerful organized crime group PCC, will start competing or will attempt to be competing with the Mexican cartels by diversifying into fentanyl as well. Right now, PCC is primarily focused on cocaine supply, of course, to Southern Cone and through West Africa into Europe. In Europe, cocaine is still the dominant drug the – that has not yet plateaued off, but in a matter of time, the chances that fentanyl will spread into Latin America, into other parts of the world is very substantial in my view. It’s just much more convenient for smugglers to move the amount of fentanyl that it takes to supply a market than amount of cocaine or heroin. So when drugs are seized, they’re often not testing for fentanyl or other types of synthetic opioids.
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Important Considerations
- Legal Ramifications: Buying fentanyl without a prescription is illegal and punishable by law.
- Health Risks: Illicit fentanyl can be contaminated with other substances or be much more potent than expected, increasing the risk of overdose.
- Consult a Professional: If you require fentanyl for medical reasons, consult a healthcare provider to obtain a legal prescription and ensure safe usage.
And to grow these exports, it started offering subsidies and tax breaks for chemical companies that produce and export those drugs. When approached by the Guardian, the company said that it regularly checked for sellers of illegal drugs such as fentanyl, and deleted those accounts. Websites based in China are selling the dangerous opioid fentanyl, which can be 50 to 100 times more powerful than morphine, and drugs used for euthanasia programmes in the Netherlands and executions in US states such as Texas. Yet such controls would be a significant challenge in Mexico where many people and businesses in legal economies, such as agriculture, fisheries, logging, mining, and retail, have to pay extortion fees to Mexican criminal groups. So achieving widespread and diligent adoption of self-regulation and incentivizing it through the punishment of violators is highly challenging.
Who created OxyContin?
All three of the original Sackler brothers who bought Purdue and ultimately developed oxycontin were physicians. At the peak of their sales and marketing, Purdue hired 3,000 doctors to serve on their speakers bureau—a fact which certainly does not reflect well on the medical profession.
Overall, buying fentanyl from China or any other illicit source is highly discouraged due to the associated legal and health risks. It is important to prioritize safety and legality when seeking out medications or substances for personal use.
What is an illegal drug in California?
However, if you are in possession of a controlled substance such as cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin, LSD, meth, ecstasy, ketamine, and prescription painkillers that one does not have a prescription for, then you are facing felony charges punishable up to 3 years imprisonment.
