Mexican cartels are reportedly using homeless people and animals as test subjects in a bid to control the fentanyl drug trade, following a shortage of drug ingredients from China.
A recent report reveals that impoverished individuals in Culiacán, along with animals such as rabbits and chickens, are being used by the Sinaloa cartel for testing purposes, reports the Daily Star.
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Animals are injected to measure a drug’s strength using arbitrary conclusions–if a hen or rabbit survives longer than 90 seconds, the batch is considered weak, according to the New York Times. Experts have warned that such experimentation will only exacerbate addiction issues or result in fatalities
It is estimated that between 50,000 and 60,000 Americans will die from synthetic opioid overdoses this year, most from consuming fentanyl or similar drugs. Previously, Mexican president Claudia Sheinbaum dismissed the need for American intervention to tackle the cartels, in response to President Donald Trump‘s proposal to send troops to Mexico.
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This comes as Trump announced his plans to classify Mexican cartels as terrorist organisations, but seeks assistance from the Mexican president.
* Original Article:
https://www.irishstar.com/news/us-news/fentanyl-mexican-drug-cartels-homeless-34381344.amp