Good morning! This week, we talk about the arrival of fentanyl in the Brazilian illegal drug market. The security crisis in Rio Grande do Norte. And how the government blames the Central Bank for souring expectations.
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Brazilian police make first fentanyl bust
Police in the southeastern state of EspĂrito Santo found dozens of bottles of fentanyl during a routine drug raid in February. It was the first time the opioid had been found in the possession of drug traffickers in the country. Police believe fentanyl is used to lace other drugs such as cocaine, LSD, or ecstasy.
- Fentanyl is a potent and fast-acting opioid that is extremely addictive. The discovery of the drug in the hands of gangs caught the attention of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency, which sent two agents to EspĂrito Santo.
Why it matters. Fentanyl is one of the main factors driving drug overdose deaths in the U.S. to record-breaking levels. Deaths involving synthetic opioids â mostly fentanyl â rose to 71,000 in 2021 from 58,000.
Reasons to...