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The Guardian - US
The Guardian - US
World
Maanvi Singh and agencies

Trump brands fentanyl a ‘weapon of mass destruction’ in drug war escalation

person wearing blue suit sits at table with hands folded
Donald Trump at the signing of an executive order designating fentanyl as a weapon of mass destruction, at the White House in Washington DC, on Monday. Photograph: Bonnie Cash/EPA

Donald Trump signed an executive order on Monday designating fentanyl as a “weapon of mass destruction” – classifying the synthetic opioid not only a lethal drug, but as a potential chemical weapon.

The order also directs the Pentagon and justice department to take additional steps to combat production and distribution of the drug. The designation comes amid the administration’s use of escalating and increasingly militaristic tactics to combat drug smuggling.

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