Fentanyl is primarily a synthetic opioid made in laboratories using precursor chemicals rather than derived from poppies. The main sources of illicit fentanyl entering the United States are Mexico and China. Mexican drug cartels produce fentanyl using precursor chemicals largely sourced from China, which remains the leading manufacturer of these chemicals despite regulatory efforts to control fentanyl production
. China has regulated fentanyl and some precursor chemicals since 2019, but loopholes remain that allow chemical companies to sell substances used for fentanyl synthesis, sometimes knowingly to illicit producers. India is also emerging as a source of finished fentanyl powder and precursor chemicals, with Mexican cartels developing networks to import synthetic drugs from there
. Fentanyl is synthesized through several chemical methods in clandestine labs, often using precursor chemicals from China or India and finished in Mexico before being smuggled into the U.S. The drug’s high potency means even small amounts can contain tens of thousands of lethal doses, facilitating smuggling across the U.S.-Mexico border
. In summary, fentanyl comes from synthetic production primarily involving precursor chemicals from China and India, with Mexican cartels manufacturing and trafficking the finished product into the United States.
