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國際時事跟讀 Ep.K951: Fentanyl's Deadly Path: A Three-Nation Crisis

Highlights 主題摘要：

The fentanyl crisis has become a major international issue, causing over 74,000 deaths in the US in 2023 and leading to trade tensions between the US, China, Mexico, and Canada.
Most fentanyl enters the US through Mexico (98% of seizures), where cartels use Chinese chemicals to produce the drug in secret labs, making border control crucial.
The crisis requires global cooperation, with Canada pledging $900 million for border security and India emerging as a new source of chemicals used in fentanyl production..

The United States government has intensified its efforts to combat fentanyl trafficking through unprecedented trade measures and international cooperation. President Donald Trump has recently imposed sweeping tariffs on Chinese imports, citing Beijing's alleged failure to prevent the export of chemical precursors used in fentanyl production. This move has sparked significant diplomatic tensions, with China preparing retaliatory measures while defending its strict drug control policies and insisting that the US needs to address its own domestic drug issues.

美國政府透過前所未有的貿易措施和國際合作，加強打擊芬太尼（Fentanyl）走私。川普總統最近對中國進口商品徵收全面性關稅，理由是北京未能阻止用於製造芬太尼的化學前驅物出口。此舉引發重大外交緊張，中國準備採取報復措施，同時為其嚴格的毒品管制政策辯護，並堅稱美國需要解決自身的國內毒品問題。

The fentanyl crisis continues to devastate American communities, with over 74,000 deaths reported in 2023 due to drug mixtures containing this synthetic opioid. Originally approved for medical use in the 1960s as a pain reliever, fentanyl has become particularly dangerous due to its potency – a mere two milligrams, equivalent to a pencil tip, can be lethal. The crisis is further complicated by drug dealers mixing fentanyl with other substances, often without users' knowledge, leading to unexpected overdoses. Law enforcement agencies face significant challenges in detection and interdiction due to the drug's lack of odor and the small quantities needed for distribution.

芬太尼危機持續重創美國社區，2023 年因含芬太尼的混合毒品致死人數超過 74,000 人。芬太尼最初在 1960 年代獲准作為止痛藥使用，但由於其效力極強而特別危險——僅僅兩毫克，相當於鉛筆尖大小，就可能致命。毒販將芬太尼與其他物質混合，且往往不讓使用者知情，導致意外過量，使得危機更加複雜。由於該藥物無氣味且分銷只需少量，執法機構在偵測和攔截方面面臨重大挑戰。

The trafficking route for fentanyl into the United States primarily involves a complex international supply chain. Chinese chemical companies provide the precursor chemicals to Mexican drug cartels, particularly the Sinaloa Cartel, who then manufacture the final product in clandestine laboratories. Recent data from US Customs and Border Patrol reveals that 98% of fentanyl seizures occur at the southwest border with Mexico, highlighting the significance of this trafficking corridor. In response to mounting pressure and tariff threats, Mexico has demonstrated its commitment to addressing the issue by conducting its largest-ever fentanyl seizure in December, intercepting approximately 20 million doses and pledging to deploy 10,000 additional troops to the border region.

芬太尼進入美國的走私路線主要涉及複雜的國際供應鏈。中國化工企業提供墨西哥毒品壟斷聯盟，特別是錫那羅亞州的集團所需的化學前驅物，後者再在秘密實驗室製造成品。美國海關和邊境巡邏局的最新資料顯示，98% 的芬太尼查獲都發生在美墨邊境，突顯該走私走廊的重要性。為回應日益增加的壓力和關稅威脅，墨西哥展現打擊問題的決心，在十二月進行該國有史以來最大規模的芬太尼查獲行動，截獲約 2,000 萬劑，並承諾在邊境地區增派 10,000 名部隊。

While Mexico remains the primary transit point, Canada has also emerged as a concern in the fentanyl trade. Though only 0.2% of US fentanyl seizures occur at the Canadian border, recent intelligence reports indicate that criminal organizations in Canada are increasingly involved in fentanyl production. The Canadian government has responded by pledging $900 million for enhanced border security and anti-trafficking measures, appointing a dedicated fentanyl czar, and committing to establish a joint strike force with the US. Additionally, the emergence of India as a new source of precursor chemicals has further complicated international efforts to control the fentanyl supply chain, demonstrating the adaptive nature of drug trafficking networks and the need for coordinated global action to address this crisis effectively.

雖然墨西哥仍是主要轉運點，但加拿大在芬太尼貿易中也逐漸引起關注。儘管在加美邊境的芬太尼查獲量僅佔美國查獲總量的 0.2%，但最新情報顯示，加拿大的犯罪組織越來越多涉及芬太尼生產。加拿大政府已投入 9 億美元加強邊境安全和反走私措施，任命專責的芬太尼特使，並承諾與美國建立聯合打擊部隊。此外，印度作為化學前驅物的新興來源地，進一步複雜化了國際社會控制芬太尼供應鏈的努力，凸顯毒品走私網絡的適應性，以及有效解決這場危機需要協調一致的全球行動。

Keyword Drills 關鍵字：

Diplomatic (Dip-lo-mat-ic) [adjective. related to managing relationships between countries]: Trump's tariffs on Chinese imports sparked significant diplomatic tensions between the two nations.
Retaliatory (Re-tal-i-a-to-ry) [adjective. done to hurt someone because they hurt you first]: China is preparing retaliatory measures while defending its strict drug control policies.
Overdoses (O-ver-dos-es) [noun. taking too much of a drug that can hurt or kill you]: Law enforcement agencies are working hard to prevent overdoses by stopping drug dealers.
Clandestine (Clan-des-tine) [adjective. kept secret, usually because it is illegal]: Mexican drug cartels manufacture the final product in clandestine laboratories.
Criminal (Crim-i-nal) [noun. a person or group that does illegal things]: Recent intelligence reports indicate that criminal organizations in Canada are increasingly involved in fentanyl production.

Reference article:
1. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvg93nn1e6go
2. https://apnews.com/article/fentanyl-border-mexico-trump-tariffs-drug-canada-3b7f4b39aaa1c9e2ca9a2b1c4cb40715

國際時事跟讀 Ep.K951: 芬太尼的致命三國危機 Fentanyl's Deadly Path: A Three-Nation Crisis

通勤學英語 15Mins Today