President Trump is working on an executive order by which he intends to designate fentanyl as a weapon of mass destruction.
Currently, the project is involving officials from the Departments of State, Justice, Commerce and Defense. “The flow of illicit fentanyl into the United States through illicit distribution networks has created a national emergency, including a public health crisis in the United States”, reads the draft executive order, “Within 14 days of the date of this order, the Attorney General and the Secretary of Homeland Security shall take all appropriate action, in consultation with the Secretary of State, to make operational recommendations to implement this order”.
Calling for “immediate action” to “address this untenable crisis,” Trump seems intent on declaring a national emergency at the southern border and designating fentanyl as a weapon of mass destruction.
According to sources, the executive order could go into effect as early as next week. In addition to designating the cartels behind the trafficking of the substance in question as terrorist organizations, the new provision would allow the U.S. to conduct military operations in Canada and Mexico and deport drug users who do not have U.S. citizenship. Recently the US president had already imposed tariffs on imports from the two neighboring countries, saying they would be a useful tool in the fight against fentanyl.
“As President of the United States, my highest duty is the defense of the country and its citizens”, the draft executive order further reads, “I will not stand by and allow our citizens to be poisoned by illicit drugs from other countries that are flooding into our country, having our law trampled upon, our communities to be ravaged, or our families to be destroyed.”
In the past, Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody had asked President Joe Biden to classify the substance in question as a weapon of mass destruction. However, her appeal went unheeded.
Now, however, things look set to change. The measure sought by Trump could become operational as early as the next few days, but sources close to the State Department say the timing has not yet been confirmed.
