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The significance of this agreement cannot be overstated. Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid often manufactured in clandestine labs primarily in China and Mexico, has been a driving force behind the spiraling overdose death rates in the United States. The drug is estimated to be hundreds of times more potent than heroin, leading to a surge in fatal overdoses.
By effectively shutting down the supply chain of fentanyl precursors, the U.S. government expects to significantly reduce the flow of these dangerous substances into the country. This coordinated effort is akin to turning off the "pipeline" that supplies the raw materials necessary for illicit fentanyl production.