Trump signs executive order labeling fentanyl weapon of mass destruction'

"There's no doubt that America's adversaries are trafficking fentanyl into the United States, in part because they want to kill Americans, Trump said on Monday during a White House event. That's why today, I'm taking one more step to protect Americans from the scourge of deadly fentanyl flooding into our country, he added. With this historic executive order I will sign today, we're formally classifying fentanyl as a weapon of mass destruction."

"The executive order called simply for a series of actions from the heads of executive agencies to eliminate the threat of illicit fentanyl and its core precursor chemicals to the United States. Under current US law, which the president cannot unilaterally change, a weapon of mass destruction is defined as any weapon that is designed or intended to cause death or serious bodily injury through the release, dissemination, or impact of toxic or poisonous chemicals, or their precursors."

President Donald Trump announced an executive order classifying fentanyl and its core precursor chemicals as weapons of mass destruction. The administration has repeatedly described international drug smugglers as narco-terrorists and designated Latin American cartels as foreign terrorist organisations to justify operations. The order directs heads of executive agencies to take a series of actions to eliminate the threat of illicit fentanyl entering the United States. It is unclear whether the WMD label will have practical legal effects or affect medically purchased fentanyl. Under current U.S. law, WMDs include weapons that cause death or serious injury through toxic chemicals or their precursors.

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