Towanda Thorne-James, who leads the El Paso Division of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), says fentanyl now contaminates “everything” the federal agency is seizing in the border city, and the Mexican government could be doing more to stop it from being trafficked into the United States.
“Fentanyl is in everything that we seize: It’s in meth, it’s in cocaine, in heroin — it’s in everything,” said the special agent.
Thorne-James said two cartels are responsible for “almost all” of the fentanyl coming across the south-west border, with much of their narcotics being sold on social media: “one click on your cellphone [and you are] having fentanyl and other drugs delivered.”
She also said she “firmly believe[s] Mexico could be doing more and should be doing more” to stop the deadly trade.
Thorne-James is particularly concerned by the spread of so-called “rainbow fentanyl,” which resembles candy and is occasionally ingested by small children with deadly consequences.
“Nothing surprises me with the cartels. I’m appalled how they target our younger children with color-coded pills, pills that are made to look like candy, things to simulate chips or cookies or things we would normally eat. They have no morals and no concerns other than generating profit,” said the DEA agent.
Donald Trump has warned uncontrolled, illegal mass migration and the trade in drugs are “poisoning the blood” of the country. A large majority of Americans agree with the America First leader.
