In a Nov. 13. letter to The Chronicle, writer Richard Perry comments about the open drug boats being blown up by the U.S. military in the Caribbean Sea and in the Pacific Ocean.
He states, “The boats carry fentanyl and cocaine. Intelligence says so.”
That is simply false.
When the U.S. military briefed the House of Representatives recently, they stated there was no fentanyl on the boats. Venezuela does not produce fentanyl. Intelligence says so. Venezuela is a transshipment conduit for Colombian cocaine. Open boats in the Caribbean Sea carry cocaine that is eventually bound for Europe. Open boats in the Pacific Ocean carry cocaine bound for Mexico or the U.S.
Small quantities of fentanyl have great value. It is not shipped in open boats. It enters the U.S. primarily in mailed parcels and private vehicles.
Fentanyl comes from Mexico, and until recently China. China has clamped down hard on fentanyl production, and little comes from there any longer. Mexico is working on the problem, and fentanyl production has been reduced. The demand for fentanyl in the U.S. and the reasons for the demand must also be addressed.
It is tragic.
Fact checking is not a MAGA strong suit.
Marty Ansley
Cinebar
