Vice President Kamala Harris discussed the growing fentanyl crisis in the U.S. at a roundtable with state attorneys general on Tuesday, but didn’t mention China and Mexico’s big role in making and trafficking fentanyl to the U.S. .

Harris spoke of the Biden administration’s efforts to curb the death toll from fentanyl overdoses nationwide, which has reached 70,000 in 2021. according to to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. China is the main producer of fentanyl chemical precursors, according to a 2020 report, and Mexico is largely responsible for trafficking fentanyl to the United States. report From the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). (Related: Biden administration to form global coalition against fentanyl. Only one problem)

“On the issue of the fentanyl and opioid crisis, we are united today in recognizing that we are facing a public health crisis,” Harris said. Said. “There are also important public safety issues here, and adequate law enforcement to address known human trafficking and some of the motivations for the distribution of fentanyl across our country and across borders. We recognize that the agency’s response is also important.”

Mexico has repeatedly denied its role in the fentanyl crisis currently plaguing American society.

“There are people making a lot of money off these drug traffickers. It’s important to think,” Harris added.

Hear me talk about the fentanyl crisis and government efforts with state attorneys general to address it. https://t.co/0ZDnGyZ1rV

— Vice President Kamala Harris (@VP) July 18, 2023

According to the DEA’s 2020 report, Mexico and China are playing two different but equally deadly roles in the fentanyl crisis. China is a major producer of fentanyl chemical precursors and “fentanyl-related substances”, which are shipped abroad to Mexico or the United States by mail or consignment.

Mexico’s transnational criminal organization (TCO) is using advanced laboratories and processing materials to ramp up production of fentanyl and fentanyl-containing tablets, according to the report. Since then, more and more drugs are being smuggled across US borders through a network of trafficking routes controlled by cartels.

The Biden administration and Secretary of State Anthony Brinken hosted a meeting last week with representatives from 84 countries to form a coalition against the production and trafficking of fentanyl.China gave no display The State Department said they would join the coalition despite the invitation.

The White House did not respond to a request for comment.

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