Episode
How Chinas Fentanyl Crackdown Disrupts Global Drug Trafficking
- Published
- Jul 11, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 529
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Summary
China has quietly become a key partner in the global fight against fentanyl, a synthetic opioid responsible for tens of thousands of overdose deaths in the United States each year. In this episode, Lucas and Luna examine how Beijing's 2019 scheduling of all fentanyl-related substances as controlled chemicals, combined with aggressive enforcement and information-sharing with US agencies, has slashed illicit exports. They look at the numbers: seizures of precursor chemicals are up 300% since 2020, and the price of fentanyl on American streets has spiked 40%, suggesting supply constraints. But they also explore the unintended consequences — the rise of new synthetic opioids like isotonitazene from Chinese labs, and the shifting of production to Indian and Mexican cartels. With the US-China trade war and mutual suspicion, can this cooperation hold? A nuanced look at a rare area of Beijing-Washington collaboration. #China #Fentanyl #OpioidCrisis #DrugPolicy #USChinaRelations #SyntheticOpioids #Isotonitazene #ChemicalControl #DrugTrafficking #PublicHealth #CriminalJustice #Economics #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #ChinaEconomy #TradeWar #DEA #PrecursorChemicals Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo