United States Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen stated that the opioid crisis costs the United States 1.5 trillion dollarsbut the most serious thing is the loss of lives, since more than a million people in the United States have died from overdose of drugs since 2000.
He emphasized that the fight against this scourge would be strengthened if The Congress of your country approves a budget of 1,200 million dollars to install state-of-the-art machines on the border with Mexico to stop the flow of fentanyl.
“Opioids, including synthetic ones such as illicitly manufactured fentanyl, are the deadliest: they kill more than 1,500 people per week and harm many more,” he stressed during his visit to Mexico.
The official explained that today the majority of the chemical precursors of illicitly manufactured fentanyl come from China and are synthesized into fentanyl in Mexico.
“I am glad to have the opportunity to talk about our cooperation with Mexico to counter illicit drug trafficking, particularly fentanyl trafficking,” he stressed.
This is a key priority of the Joe Biden administration and an area where the Treasury Department is taking decisive action, in close collaboration with the Mexican government.
The economist added that came to the country to raise awareness among businessmen and bankers of the need to work together to Stop fentanyl smuggling and money launderingthrough the financial system.
He added that US authorities are also seizing significant quantities of fentanyl: To date this year, more than 410 million lethal doses have been seized, But the nature of the illicit drug trade “means that we cannot end the opioid crisis in the United States and achieve greater security without looking beyond our borders.”
The former president of the United States Federal Reserve added that she came to Mexico to announce the application of sanctions to 15 people and two companies related to drug trafficking to her country.
He specified that the Office of Foreign Assets Control appointed Óscar Manuel Gastelum Iribe, the Musician, and Pedro Inzunza Noriega, who constitute the current leadership of the Beltrán Leyva organization, along with Fausto Isidro Meza, who was appointed in 2013.
Mario Germán Beltrán and Amberto Beltrán Araujo, among others, were also sanctioned.