"U.S. Citizens: The Unlikely Mules Smuggling Fentanyl Across Borders"

The majority of illicit fentanyl entering the US from Mexico is smuggled through legal ports of entry by couriers or "mules," with close to 90% of seizures occurring at official border crossings. These couriers are often US citizens struggling with addiction and financial desperation, recruited by drug cartels to transport drugs across the border. Synthetic opioids like fentanyl are more potent and easier to conceal, making them attractive to smugglers. While some fentanyl is caught between ports of entry, Republicans argue that the Border Patrol is distracted by dealing with migrants, allowing smugglers to sneak more drugs across in remote areas.