Key Takeaways
- Illicit fentanyl is considered a chemical weapon due to its high potency and potential for mass harm.
- The production and distribution of fentanyl by organized criminal networks and Foreign Terrorist Organizations pose a significant threat to national security.
- The US government has designated illicit fentanyl and its core precursor chemicals as Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD).
- Executive departments and agencies are required to take action to eliminate the threat of illicit fentanyl, including investigations, prosecutions, and financial sanctions.
- The US military will update its response to chemical incidents to include the threat of illicit fentanyl.
Introduction to the Executive Order
The President of the United States has issued an executive order designating illicit fentanyl and its core precursor chemicals as Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD). This order is a response to the growing threat posed by the production and distribution of fentanyl by organized criminal networks and Foreign Terrorist Organizations. Fentanyl is a highly potent synthetic opioid that can be lethal in extremely small quantities, with just two milligrams constituting a fatal dose. The order highlights the significant threat that fentanyl poses to national security, as well as the potential for it to be used as a chemical weapon.
The Threat of Fentanyl
The manufacture and distribution of fentanyl are primarily carried out by organized criminal networks, which engage in armed conflict over territory and to protect their operations. This has resulted in large-scale violence and death, exacerbating the threat posed by fentanyl itself. Furthermore, the production and sale of fentanyl by Foreign Terrorist Organizations fund their operations, including assassinations, terrorist acts, and insurgencies around the world. The order emphasizes that the potential for fentanyl to be weaponized for concentrated, large-scale terror attacks is a serious threat to the United States.
Implementation of the Executive Order
To eliminate the threat of illicit fentanyl, the executive order requires the heads of relevant executive departments and agencies to take appropriate action. This includes the Attorney General pursuing investigations and prosecutions into fentanyl trafficking, as well as the Secretary of State and the Secretary of the Treasury taking action against relevant assets and financial institutions. The Secretary of War and the Attorney General will also determine whether the threats posed by illicit fentanyl warrant the provision of resources from the Department of War to the Department of Justice. Additionally, the Secretary of War will update all directives regarding the Armed Forces’ response to chemical incidents in the homeland to include the threat of illicit fentanyl.
Definitions and General Provisions
The executive order defines "illicit fentanyl" as fentanyl that is manufactured, distributed, or dispensed, or possessed with intent to manufacture, distribute, or dispense in violation of the Controlled Substances Act. "Core precursor chemicals" are defined as the core chemicals that create illicit fentanyl and its analogues, such as Piperidone or other Piperidone-based substances. The order also states that nothing in the order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget.
Conclusion and Next Steps
The designation of illicit fentanyl and its core precursor chemicals as Weapons of Mass Destruction marks a significant step in the US government’s efforts to combat the threat posed by fentanyl. The executive order requires executive departments and agencies to take a comprehensive approach to eliminating the threat of illicit fentanyl, including investigations, prosecutions, financial sanctions, and updates to the military’s response to chemical incidents. As the US government moves forward with implementing this order, it is likely that there will be increased cooperation between law enforcement agencies, intelligence agencies, and international partners to disrupt the production and distribution of fentanyl and prevent its use as a chemical weapon.
