CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A new report by the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission is shedding light on the illicit fentanyl traffic from China.
Charleston attorney Carte Goodwin serves on the commission and said China remains the primary country of origin for the flow of the dangerous drug.
“That’s not to say that they haven’t taken some steps,” Goodwin said on last week’s MetroNews “Talkline.” “It shows them taking some effort, but needless to say, significant gaps remain.”
Goodwin said the fentanyl problem is getting worse, now with rainbow fentanyl targeting America’s youth. The dangerous drug comes in the form of pills that look like candy.
“It’s a global problem and it’s going to require a global solution. That means we have to engage with our allies and partners around the world and engage with countries like China,” he said.
The fentanyl is coming in through mail which makes it difficult to track because they’re relatively small shipments, Goodwin said.
“They’re coming in to Mexico and then through ports of entry into the United States. We have to get them back to the table to the table to step up efforts,” he said of China.
There is a report by the U.S.-China Commission about the illicit fentanyl traffic from China. What does this report state? Carte Goodwin, who serves on the U.S.-China Commission, gives his insight on the report to @HoppyKercheval. WATCH: https://t.co/yCFQ3nDJuy pic.twitter.com/dM0zpWjri5
— MetroNews (@WVMetroNews) October 10, 2022
Goodwin previously served as a United States senator from West Virginia in 2010. He was appointed by then Gov. Joe Manchin to fill the vacancy created by the death of Robert Byrd.
On the commission, Goodwin said his goal is to highlight the challenges West Virginia faces during the ongoing drug crisis.
“What I’ve always endeavored to do during my time on the commission is make sure that that sort of West Virginia perspective is brought to bare on our work while remaining mindful of the face as complex and intricate as these issues are, these are real problems and they affect real people in real ways,” he said.