Some parts of this article are excerpts By ASSOCIATED PRESS APRIL 20, 2020 12:51 AM NEW YORK —
The coronavirus is dealing a gut punch to the illegal drug trade, authorities say, paralyzing economies, closing borders and severing supply chains in China that traffickers rely on for the chemicals to make such profitable drugs as methamphetamine and the powerful opioid fentanyl.
How does this affect you? Drug dealers are now finding other means to transport drugs through the highly increased influx of medical supplies into the United States. This has made the short-staffed US Customs to manage re-inspections of medical devices, protective gear and other imported goods to be delayed additionally, before getting to their warehouses and eventually the customers purchasing these items online.
Drugs are being smuggled into the country through protective equipment and medical devices, and these add to border and US Customs delays for companies importing legal and safe equipment to people that really need them on the frontlines.
“Patience is one thing we must adopt during this crisis and epidemic. Everything is slower, clogged and agencies are short-staffed due to layoffs, furloughs and social distancing. ” says Mr Ike Nwaneri, managing partner at ZEND LLC, owners of ZEND Health.