Nearly half of these deaths occurred between 2017 and 2022, with 81,806 lives lost in 2022 alone. Synthetic opioids, primarily illegally manufactured fentanyl, contribute an estimated 90 percent of these deaths
The Role of TCOs in the Drug Trade
The global supply chain for fentanyl involves complex geopolitical dynamics, particularly with the People’s Republic of China and Mexican drug cartels.
From 2014 to 2019, approximately 70-80 percent of confiscated fentanyl in the United States originated in Chinese labs. Today, most fentanyl is produced in Mexico using precursor chemicals sourced from China. Mexican cartels, including the Jalisco New Generation Cartel and the Sinaloa Cartel, dominate this trade by leveraging alliances with Chinese triads to access chemical precursors.
Exploiting Security Weaknesses
TCOs play a significant role in facilitating the movement of these dangerous substances, exploiting economic disparities and endemic corruption within state institutions and security forces. These organized crime groups have shifted their focus toward synthetic drugs due to their high potency and compact nature, making them easier to smuggle while yielding higher profits than traditional narcotics.
