A highly potent synthetic opioid shaping global health and law enforcement debates
The U.S. military has intensified its campaign against narco-traffickers in the eastern Pacific and Caribbean, killing multiple people on boats suspected of drug smuggling. Officials say the actions are legal and necessary to curb fentanyl flows, while critics question legality and efficacy.
The AP and other outlets have reported that federal agents monitored fentanyl shipments without seizing them to build cases against traffickers, arguing bigger targets justify the approach. Officials defend the practice as lawful and necessary, while critics warn it jeopardizes public safety as overdoses rise in New Mexico.