Today, Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador declared that illicit Fentanyl use is an America problem and that it is due to social decay in the United States. He also declared that there is no Fentanyl problem in Mexico and that it is not manufactured there. This, of course, is a lie. Mexican drug cartels manufacture billions of dollars worth of Fentanyl and other illicit opiates every year from raw materials imported from China (PRC) and then traffic these drugs to the United States by various illegal means. JAMA, the Journal of the American Medical Association, reported in its January 10, 2023 issue that “Fentanyl overdose is a dangerous condition that can result in death”. In fact, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control noted that 71,238 Americans died of Fentanyl overdose in 2021. These figures are certainly alarming and indicative of a serious national security and pubic health problem that must urgently be addressed.
Last week, various news media reported that over 200 pounds of Fentanyl were seized in San Clemente, California. This cache of drugs was smuggled into the United States from Mexico across the porous southern border. It was stated that this is enough Fentanyl to kill fifty million people. Does anyone doubt that this is a serious problem? If anyone doubts the gravity of this problem, please consider that the leading cause of death in the United States of the 18 to 49 year old cohort is Fentanyl. Numerous undocumented “immigrants” crossing the border daily are apprehended with Fentanyl for distribution in the United States. These importers of death are certainly the bottom of the supply chain smuggling death into our country. However, the fact that they are low level does not absolve them from their murderous acts. What can be done to end this importation of death? Can it be stopped? Yes, it is an American problem, but someone, perhaps President Biden if he has the nerve, can tell Andres Lopez Obrador that poverty and corruption are Mexican problems. Stop the exportation of drugs into the United States if you want to export avocados and other agricultural products. We can no longer tolerate Mexico, and PRC as well, behaving as they do with impunity and with no reaction on our part.
Let us be clear. Murder is not acceptable in a society that considers itself to be civilized. While recent trends in the United States have led to the election of numerous “progressive” District Attorneys and legislators who have tried to “understand” criminals and crime, the tidal wave of crime nationwide has become a major political issue. Yesterday, the Congress, for the first time in forty years overturned legislation by the District of Columbia City Council which in the name of penal reform, lightened the penalties for many serious crimes, including attempted murder, rape and carjacking. Significantly, this Congressional action was passed in both Houses of Congress with bipartisan support as Democrats joined with Republicans. Only last week, President Biden had indicated his opposition to this legislation, yet now he has said that he will sign it into law. We all recognize that the first imperative of any elected official is to be elected or re-elected. Thankfully, most elected officials are beginning to recognize that the narcotic problem must be addressed and quickly. They recognize that if they don’t act the voters will and that they are not as indispensable as they may think they are. If they don’t put a stop to the importation of death, someone else will be willing to stop it.
Imagine that someone, unprovoked, puts a loaded gun to someone’s head and pulls the trigger. How different is supplying Fentanyl to human beings resulting in death? Fentanyl is approximately 200 times as powerful as morphine. It is deadly. Therefore, its commerce is a form of murder. The death penalty is appropriate. Many states do not have a death penalty law, many prosecutors won’t ask for the death penalty and many governors have stated that they will commute all death sentences on their watch to life imprisonment. This, at a time of national emergency, which we are facing now, is not acceptable. We all want to be humane but we can no longer accept over 70,000 deaths of young people every year. So the death penalty must be utilized on all the links in the narcotic supply chain from the street corner retailer, to the gangs, to the mule, to the other importers to the big shot financiers, the cartel “executives”, and all the enablers of this agent of death. A federal law must be passed with the appropriate penalty prescribed.
This post has been written with the knowledge that many do not agree with it and its substance. However, if it results in debate of the issues that in itself is positive. America is a great country. Let us continue to be great and that means putting a stop to this plague which afflicts us. Mexico and the PRC cannot plead ignorance or any other excuse. This is a form of warfare and an immediate response is called for.
Garry S. Sklar
Las Vegas, Nevada
March 8, 2023
Extremely well said. I agree with it and its substance! Thanks for sharing.