A man who lives on the street shows what he believes to be the synthetic drug fentanyl in the Tenderloin neighborhood of San Francisco, California, U.S., February 27, 2020. Portal/Shannon Stapleton
(From Montevideo, Uruguay) – Two Argentine cars had suspicious movements in Uruguay in 2023. The routes they followed in the area were similar to those used to bring drugs into the country, prompting police to launch a chase. After dodging evasive maneuvers on the road and running off-road, officers managed to stop them, arrest the drivers and confiscate the cargo they were carrying.
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There was cash, three cell phones and drugs in the cars: 31 blocks of cocaine and three small packages. What the first analysis of one of the samples revealed caused alarm in the country: it was true Cyclopentine Fentallinethe powerful synthetic opioid that is wreaking havoc across the United States. However, there is still an analysis by the Forensic Technical Institute (ITF) to confirm whether it is the substance or not.
If this is confirmed, the Argentines would have only had a sample of the powerful drug with them, but a few quantities – just milligrams – would be enough to “intoxicate a country”, warned the US state minister National Medicines Agency (JND), Daniel Radio.
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“The difference between fentanyl and other substances is that we are talking about micrograms. That is, with very small doses… Sometimes they say, “How come they don't do anything to prevent the intrusion?” Every effort must be made, but with what goes into the graphic [la mina] We intoxicated a city with a pencil“, he explained in an interview with the program En Perspectiva.
All opioids, he explained, are used for “pain relief,” not just physical pain but also “mental pain.” “So it plays a role in marginalized areas of society. That is why it is a drug that particularly affects these sectors,” he commented.
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Radio said the ITF would have the “final say” on what substance the Argentine vehicles were carrying, as some special reagents were required for analysis. “For this reason, Before we raise the alarm, we must be careful. We will wait“, he calmed down.
In a preliminary study, cyclopentylfentanyl was found in the drug seized in Uruguay (Ministry of the Interior)
The JND secretary described that “three small envelopes” were found in the cars, which did not represent “the majority” of the drugs they were transporting. A strange peculiarity of the sample was that it was cut with cocaine, something not “normal”.
Unlike other substances, “very small” amounts are enough to cause an overdose of fentanyl, and the difference between the “effective dose” and the “lethal” dose is very small. For this reason, the unit of measurement for this substance is usually micrograms, which makes control difficult.
The Uruguayan leader said the rise in drug use in the United States was part of a “special historical context” as a laboratory promoted narcotic drugs. When this illegal practice became public and controls began, there were already “a lot” of addicts. Obtaining substances from the laboratory became increasingly difficult and people began to buy heroin, but there were problems with supplies. “That’s when drug traffickers introduced fentanyl,” Radio said.
At the time, it was only found in the Eastern world – particularly China – and the business was run by Mexican gangs. “There are geopolitical conditions, in the context of the global struggle between China and the United Statesand that is the basis for it (…) We do not meet these environmental characteristics that do not vaccinate us,” he explained.
The fact that the substance reaches a country is not enough to “catch people,” Radio explained, referring to these “other conditions.” “However, you have to be vigilant first. We are waiting for confirmation from the ITF laboratory,” he stressed.
Confiscated doses of fentanyl were analyzed in the drug research chemical laboratory of the Anti-Drug Directorate of the National Police – (Daniela Gallo/Infobae Colombia)
This is what happens in Uruguay early warning system, a coordination mechanism between government agencies in which substances imported into Uruguay and their possible new uses are constantly analyzed. If they determine there is a risk, a public warning will be issued. In this case, the authorities “wait” so as not to raise an “alarm” if the matter does not “justify” it.
The government definitely plans to advance prevention and treatment mechanisms, and leaders have met with U.S. Ambassador to Uruguay Heide Fulton and experts from the Drug Control Administration.
“The problem exists. We are not interested in raising alarm about this issue, however We are vigilant and working“Radio summarized.
Fentanyl is a “very cheap” drug that generates “large economic returns.” Producing one kilo of fentanyl costs $20,000, while this amount is sold on the US market for $1 million.
The only time it was discovered in Uruguay was in 2017.