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♪ ♪
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(Mariana speaking Spanish)
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MARIANA: I can see somebody.
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Okay. So this is
our welcoming committee.
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♪ ♪
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♪ ♪
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MARIANA: Five years ago,
almost no one had heard of it.
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Today it's a household name.
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Fentanyl.
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MARIANA: In the US, fentanyl
is helping drive overdose deaths
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to record highs.
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OFFICER: It's wiping out
a generation.
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MARIANA: While in Mexico,
it's disrupting the drug trade
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in ways not seen in generations.
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MARIANA: But few people
understand how the cartels
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are getting their hands
on the chemicals
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necessary to make fentanyl,
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or what the fallout will be
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if they continue to churn
these raw ingredients
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into more deadly pills
and powders.
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(siren)
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MARIANA:
From Mexico's cartel country
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to the border and
into American communities...
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Whoa.
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...I'm going deep inside
the fentanyl pipeline
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to see exactly how it's fueling
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the most devastating
drug epidemic in US history.
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♪ ♪
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(siren)
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MAN: Okay, received.
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(siren)
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MARIANA: Like many first
responders across New England,
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the Manchester Fire Department
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handles far more overdoses
than fires.
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So it says
it's a 26‐year‐old female,
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overdose, not conscious,
turning blue.
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New Hampshire has one
of the highest rates
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of opioid‐related deaths
in the country.
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Looks like we're
the first ones here.
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MAN: Yeah, we're it.
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♪ ♪
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MARIANA: The chief is in there
trying to revive this patient.
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I got to see inside,
there was a woman on the floor,
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it was an overdose,
she was overdosing.
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♪ ♪
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WOMAN: Heroin may kill.
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Fentanyl will kill.
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They took him from us.
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MARIANA: I first reported
on fentanyl in 2015,
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when most Americans had never
even heard of the drug.
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Another overdose.
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What I witnessed was shocking.
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And this is what they're finding
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in a lot of these
overdose sites.
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Fentanyl is 50 times stronger
than heroin
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and killed 20,000 people
the following year.
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Today the situation
is even worse.
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MAN: It's like playing
Russian roulette
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with a completely loaded gun.
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You're going to die,
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and it could be the first time
you pull the trigger.
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But every chamber's full,
and how, you know,
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you wanna take a 90% chance that
you're gonna succumb to that
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00:04:07,164 --> 00:04:09,583
in seconds or minutes.
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That is mind‐boggling.
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MAN: Yo, come on.
Get up, man.
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Come on, get up.
Come on, get up.
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Come on, get up, buddy.
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MARIANA: What do you think
needs to happen for this to end?
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Certainly less drugs
on the streets, right?
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Less drugs entering
the United States?
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You don't think so?
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MARIANA: To understand
why fentanyl is more prolific,
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potent, and killing
more people than ever,
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I have to go to the source...
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the Mexican cartels.
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♪ ♪
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MARIANA: It's go time.
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♪ ♪
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Our contact sent us a location
of where to meet them.
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It's at a port
on a coast close by.
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00:05:01,426 --> 00:05:05,472
It's about 20 minutes away
from where we are right now.
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Fentanyl is the most dangerous
drug in America,
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and much of it comes from
right here in Sinaloa, Mexico.
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Hey, guys, what's happening?
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MARIANA: Oh, my God.
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Okay, we're trying to get there
as fast as possible.
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We've been in town
less than 24 hours,
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and already my cartel contact
has gotten us a lead
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on the arrival
of a new shipment.
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00:05:38,547 --> 00:05:39,923
So that's one of the things,
you know,
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when you're following a real
shipment and supply of drugs,
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is that they're not gonna wait
around for us
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before they, it goes
to the next location.
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♪ ♪
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(exhales)
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So we're just crossing
our fingers
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and hoping that nothing
falls through.
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There are two ways fentanyl
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illegally enters
the United States:
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through black market mail orders
from China
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00:06:03,488 --> 00:06:07,492
or via Mexico's drug cartels,
the people I'm trying to meet.
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MARIANA: Yeah, so it's...
that's him right up there.
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They don't want us to show
their faces or anything,
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so just be careful.
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But this is our guy.
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MARIANA: Our hope
for access comes through.
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My sources inside
the Sinaloa cartel have agreed
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to show me the critical first
step in their fentanyl pipeline.
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So they've got this boat
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ready for us to go out
on sea with them.
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Under the pretense of filming
a little fishing expedition,
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we're actually heading out
to film something
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that has never ever
been filmed before.
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♪ ♪
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We're being taken out to sea
by a guy who's asked us
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specifically not to even point
the camera in his direction.
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He doesn't wanna be
filmed at all.
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And supposedly, we heard
that our contacts
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will be waiting for us
somewhere out at sea,
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and then we'll be told
what the plan is.
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Fentanyl has been called
Mexico's ghost drug
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because nobody has any idea
how much is being produced
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and imported
into the United States,
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but what's beyond a shred
of doubt is its impact.
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WOMAN: Hey!
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MARIANA: Opioids are now
the number one cause
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of accidental deaths in the US,
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killing more people
than guns or car crashes.
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WOMAN: Yeah, let's
lay her down flat.
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Everybody lay her down
flat, okay?
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MARIANA: In just a few years,
fentanyl has become
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the most popular synthetic
opioid on the streets,
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and Mexico's cartels
have stepped up
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00:08:00,939 --> 00:08:04,025
to supply this demand.
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00:08:04,025 --> 00:08:05,735
But it's a little known secret
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00:08:05,735 --> 00:08:08,947
that the cartels can't make
the drug themselves.
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They first need to source
these potent chemicals
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from somewhere or someone else.
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There's a boat that I think
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might be the people
we're meeting,
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this boat right ahead,
with three or four guys inside.
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There are cargo ships
all around us,
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there's a fishing boat
right here.
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And then, we see it.
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Oh, my (bleep) lord.
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A row of large plastic barrels
floating towards
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the small tourist boat
we've been following.
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Barrels that have been
tossed from the stern
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00:08:49,696 --> 00:08:52,198
of a rust‐covered
fishing trawler nearby.
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00:08:52,198 --> 00:08:53,992
There were about ten barrels,
white barrels,
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that were thrown out to sea.
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Packed inside
are the potent chemicals
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the cartels need
to create fentanyl.
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I mean, it's so (bleep) crazy.
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You look at it,
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00:09:05,170 --> 00:09:08,715
and it just looks like
a totally normal fishing boat.
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There's hundreds,
if not thousands of them
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around the coast of Mexico.
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In a way, it's sort
of the perfect crime
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because it's
so indistinguishable.
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It would never raise any alarm.
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(man speaking Spanish)
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MARIANA: Okay, it has to be
really quick.
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So it has to be
really quick, guys.
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They're saying that they don't
feel obviously safe here.
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(Mariana speaking Spanish)
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MARIANA:
What's inside the barrels?
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Wow.
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00:09:50,048 --> 00:09:53,468
(man speaking Spanish)
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MARIANA: Wow. So they're saying
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that it was one
of these big cargo ships
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that we see all around us that
threw these barrels oversea.
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Then the fishing boat over here
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00:10:01,059 --> 00:10:03,520
got a GPS location
of where to pick them up,
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picks them up, brings it out,
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and then there's
a meeting point here
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where these guys come
and pick it up
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00:10:07,607 --> 00:10:09,818
and then take it to off to land.
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Mazatlán is one of Mexico's
busiest Pacific ports,
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00:10:18,451 --> 00:10:21,246
and while most of these
international container ships
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are moving legitimate
commercial goods,
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00:10:23,498 --> 00:10:26,209
the smugglers tell me that some
of the people on board
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are in business
with the Sinaloa cartel,
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delivering the chemicals
they need from Asia or Europe.
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Okay. Sí, okay.
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They say they have to go
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because there's Marines all
around us, and they're worried.
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♪ ♪
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We should definitely
keep our distance
191
00:10:49,732 --> 00:10:52,277
because we have a boat
packed with drugs,
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and if the Marines come
or anything,
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we don't want to be seen
194
00:10:54,779 --> 00:10:58,116
being part of this operation,
you know?
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00:10:58,116 --> 00:11:02,078
Incredibly, one of the cartel's
most dangerous drugs
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00:11:02,078 --> 00:11:05,165
is being trafficked
in plain sight.
197
00:11:05,165 --> 00:11:07,083
♪ ♪
198
00:11:07,083 --> 00:11:08,543
You can see what's happening
right behind me,
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00:11:08,543 --> 00:11:10,795
they're unloading the boat
one barrel at a time
200
00:11:10,795 --> 00:11:12,630
going to shore.
201
00:11:12,630 --> 00:11:14,382
We're in a little port
202
00:11:14,382 --> 00:11:16,801
surrounded by other
fishing boats.
203
00:11:16,801 --> 00:11:19,137
There's actually a tourist boat
204
00:11:19,137 --> 00:11:24,142
with about 50 people heading out
right now, right next to us.
205
00:11:24,142 --> 00:11:26,102
Earlier, I'd asked my contact
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00:11:26,102 --> 00:11:29,981
if we could follow this shipment
from start to finish.
207
00:11:29,981 --> 00:11:33,693
The answer was yes,
if we can keep up.
208
00:11:33,693 --> 00:11:35,111
We're here. We're here.
209
00:11:35,111 --> 00:11:38,489
We're coming up.
Okay, quick.
210
00:11:38,489 --> 00:11:41,492
¿Ya se fueron?
211
00:11:41,492 --> 00:11:43,536
Are they here or they left?
212
00:11:43,536 --> 00:11:46,497
MAN: It was loaded
from the boat to here
213
00:11:46,497 --> 00:11:48,499
in a matter of 15 seconds.
214
00:11:48,499 --> 00:11:50,877
MARIANA: I mean, it was crazy,
the whole thing took about,
215
00:11:50,877 --> 00:11:52,170
I don't know, 10 seconds?
I don't know.
216
00:11:52,170 --> 00:11:53,504
MAN: Yeah.
217
00:11:53,504 --> 00:11:54,422
MARIANA: We've been waiting
and planning this
218
00:11:54,422 --> 00:11:55,882
for months and months.
219
00:11:57,634 --> 00:11:59,677
MAN: A car just like that one.
220
00:11:59,677 --> 00:12:00,553
MARIANA: Oh, it's like
a tourist car?
221
00:12:00,553 --> 00:12:02,222
MAN: Yes. Just like that one.
222
00:12:02,222 --> 00:12:03,973
MARIANA: Oh, wow.
223
00:12:03,973 --> 00:12:06,476
So it's these cars that you see
all around Mazatlán,
224
00:12:06,476 --> 00:12:10,230
which are these open trucks
with these benches on the side,
225
00:12:10,230 --> 00:12:12,106
and they transport tourists
around here
226
00:12:12,106 --> 00:12:14,734
in sort of these
local tourist taxis.
227
00:12:14,734 --> 00:12:16,027
And that's where
they loaded them.
228
00:12:16,027 --> 00:12:17,487
MAN: And that's where
they loaded everything.
229
00:12:17,487 --> 00:12:18,488
♪ ♪
230
00:12:18,488 --> 00:12:23,201
(man singing in Spanish)
231
00:12:23,201 --> 00:12:24,953
♪ ♪
232
00:12:24,953 --> 00:12:27,538
MARIANA: Mazatlán is
a popular resort town,
233
00:12:27,538 --> 00:12:29,582
and it seems like
the drug smugglers here
234
00:12:29,582 --> 00:12:33,628
are using this
to their advantage.
235
00:12:33,628 --> 00:12:35,922
None of the tourists
appear to realize
236
00:12:35,922 --> 00:12:37,966
that this is
a key staging ground
237
00:12:37,966 --> 00:12:40,551
for the cartel's
booming fentanyl business.
238
00:12:46,599 --> 00:12:50,436
Keeping a low profile is key
to a trafficker's survival.
239
00:12:50,436 --> 00:12:53,648
Mexican law enforcement
is all over the city,
240
00:12:53,648 --> 00:12:56,567
and they're just one
of many threats.
241
00:12:56,567 --> 00:13:00,989
(phone ringing)
242
00:13:00,989 --> 00:13:02,532
So why, what's happening?
Why are we rushing?
243
00:13:07,578 --> 00:13:09,372
MARIANA: My team has
reestablished contact
244
00:13:09,372 --> 00:13:11,374
with the smugglers,
245
00:13:11,374 --> 00:13:14,502
but now it seems we're not the
only ones pursuing the shipment.
246
00:13:21,426 --> 00:13:22,302
MARIANA: Really?
247
00:13:34,772 --> 00:13:35,648
MARIANA: So gunmen?
248
00:13:38,318 --> 00:13:39,986
MARIANA: I'm hardly surprised,
249
00:13:39,986 --> 00:13:43,281
Mexico is being ripped apart
by gun violence,
250
00:13:43,281 --> 00:13:47,702
as a dozen different cartels
vie to control the drug trade.
251
00:13:47,702 --> 00:13:49,996
With 11 containers
full of drugs,
252
00:13:49,996 --> 00:13:52,915
I'm sure that there's
a lot of eyes out there,
253
00:13:52,915 --> 00:13:54,625
other people trying
to get their hands on it.
254
00:13:54,625 --> 00:13:56,711
It's worth a lot of money.
255
00:13:56,711 --> 00:13:59,672
Of course if we can't lose
the people following us,
256
00:13:59,672 --> 00:14:02,425
my contacts are going
to disappear
257
00:14:02,425 --> 00:14:06,012
along with the fentanyl shipment
I'm trying to catch up with.
258
00:14:23,988 --> 00:14:25,073
MARIANA: Let's just
wait here for a second
259
00:14:25,073 --> 00:14:28,326
and see if by any chance
we see them pass by us.
260
00:14:28,326 --> 00:14:30,661
I'm pursuing a group
of fentanyl smugglers
261
00:14:30,661 --> 00:14:33,122
through downtown Mazatlán.
262
00:14:33,122 --> 00:14:36,042
But it now appears
someone else is pursuing me.
263
00:14:39,837 --> 00:14:43,341
It could be the Sinaloa cartel,
it could be a rival group,
264
00:14:43,341 --> 00:14:45,259
or it could be nothing.
265
00:14:45,259 --> 00:14:49,472
Reporting on narcos in Mexico
can make you paranoid.
266
00:14:49,472 --> 00:14:52,433
Okay, so it looks like
we've lost them.
267
00:14:52,433 --> 00:14:53,893
They're not behind us.
268
00:15:00,399 --> 00:15:02,276
(exhales)
269
00:15:02,276 --> 00:15:07,532
It's a relief,
but it's also slowed us down.
270
00:15:07,532 --> 00:15:11,369
We need to catch up with
the shipment we're following.
271
00:15:11,369 --> 00:15:13,246
We've been given access to film
272
00:15:13,246 --> 00:15:17,083
where they put these barrels
with the fentanyl precursors
273
00:15:17,083 --> 00:15:19,544
before they ship them
to the labs.
274
00:15:19,544 --> 00:15:22,046
But we're just waiting
for an exact location.
275
00:15:26,592 --> 00:15:30,179
Okay, I think this is it.
276
00:15:30,179 --> 00:15:34,058
The GPS coordinates take us on a
30‐minute drive outside of town
277
00:15:34,058 --> 00:15:36,394
to a gated apartment complex.
278
00:15:38,855 --> 00:15:41,315
Okay, here, (bleep). Down.
279
00:15:41,315 --> 00:15:43,734
I think we should put cameras
down, guys. Sorry, but.
280
00:15:53,744 --> 00:15:56,122
We have to be careful
not to reveal the location
281
00:15:56,122 --> 00:15:58,958
or identities of our hosts.
282
00:15:58,958 --> 00:16:03,504
We're just following him,
our contact.
283
00:16:03,504 --> 00:16:05,923
These apartments
are called privadas,
284
00:16:05,923 --> 00:16:08,342
quiet residential communities.
285
00:16:08,342 --> 00:16:11,971
My contact tells me this privada
is controlled by the cartel.
286
00:16:32,867 --> 00:16:35,578
MARIANA: The apartment is
being used as a stash house;
287
00:16:35,578 --> 00:16:38,039
a temporary waystation
where the product is safe
288
00:16:38,039 --> 00:16:40,208
from cops and competitors.
289
00:16:40,208 --> 00:16:43,461
And it's managed
by these two men.
290
00:16:58,935 --> 00:17:00,186
MARIANA: Wow.
291
00:17:06,275 --> 00:17:12,156
MARIANA: You can hear it.
It's all liquid inside.
292
00:17:12,156 --> 00:17:15,451
They say the chemicals swishing
around inside these barrels
293
00:17:15,451 --> 00:17:18,955
will be transported to
secret labs further inland
294
00:17:18,955 --> 00:17:20,915
where the cartel's chemists
will process them
295
00:17:20,915 --> 00:17:23,334
into fentanyl itself.
296
00:17:23,334 --> 00:17:27,296
So all this stuff that they have
here is worth about $350,000,
297
00:17:27,296 --> 00:17:28,923
and they're saying that once
it actually gets mixed
298
00:17:28,923 --> 00:17:31,634
with the other products
and transformed into fentanyl,
299
00:17:31,634 --> 00:17:33,970
that it's worth millions
and millions of dollars.
300
00:17:40,434 --> 00:17:41,978
MARIANA: I've heard
the cartels are getting
301
00:17:41,978 --> 00:17:45,898
medical‐grade pharmaceuticals
from outside Mexico,
302
00:17:45,898 --> 00:17:47,191
and I want to know where.
303
00:18:06,210 --> 00:18:08,754
MARIANA: Pushing further will
put these guys in a tough spot
304
00:18:08,754 --> 00:18:10,881
with their bosses.
305
00:18:10,881 --> 00:18:13,009
Since they won't
let me open the packages,
306
00:18:13,009 --> 00:18:16,762
I can't implicate
a specific country or company.
307
00:18:16,762 --> 00:18:19,265
DONALD TRUMP: Today
President Xi and I discussed
308
00:18:19,265 --> 00:18:24,687
ways we can stop the lethal flow
of poisonous drugs
309
00:18:24,687 --> 00:18:26,814
into our countries.
310
00:18:26,814 --> 00:18:31,652
A special emphasis will be
placed on the new phenomena,
311
00:18:31,652 --> 00:18:34,530
fentanyl.
312
00:18:34,530 --> 00:18:37,283
MARIANA: It's a well‐known fact
that China has thousands
313
00:18:37,283 --> 00:18:39,952
of poorly regulated
chemical companies
314
00:18:39,952 --> 00:18:41,495
pumping out generic drugs
315
00:18:41,495 --> 00:18:44,290
and pharmaceutical ingredients
every week.
316
00:18:47,209 --> 00:18:48,878
I really wish I could see
what's written inside.
317
00:18:50,880 --> 00:18:52,298
MARIANA: Okay.
(speaks Spanish)
318
00:19:13,027 --> 00:19:16,739
MARIANA: Trafficking networks
are compartmentalized by design.
319
00:19:16,739 --> 00:19:18,532
(speaks Spanish)
320
00:19:18,532 --> 00:19:20,201
You get something from one guy
321
00:19:20,201 --> 00:19:24,246
and pass it along
to someone else.
322
00:19:24,246 --> 00:19:29,418
In between, you do your job
and you ask few questions.
323
00:19:29,418 --> 00:19:33,422
But this network is nothing
if not efficient.
324
00:19:33,422 --> 00:19:36,175
My sources tell me it takes
as little as eight days
325
00:19:36,175 --> 00:19:39,345
for the chemicals to move
from a Pacific Ocean delivery
326
00:19:39,345 --> 00:19:43,391
to hidden cartel labs,
then north across the US border
327
00:19:43,391 --> 00:19:46,936
and finally onto
America's streets.
328
00:19:46,936 --> 00:19:48,437
MAN: Come on, get up, man.
329
00:19:48,437 --> 00:19:49,605
Come on, get up, buddy.
330
00:19:49,605 --> 00:19:52,274
(siren)
331
00:20:11,711 --> 00:20:16,382
MARIANA: Fentanyl was first
created in Belgium in 1960.
332
00:20:16,382 --> 00:20:18,509
It was designed
for use in surgery
333
00:20:18,509 --> 00:20:21,887
and to treat the most
severe forms of pain.
334
00:20:21,887 --> 00:20:24,682
Over time, American
pharmaceutical companies
335
00:20:24,682 --> 00:20:28,185
found a profitable way to market
related opioid medications
336
00:20:28,185 --> 00:20:30,688
outside hospital settings.
337
00:20:30,688 --> 00:20:32,690
WOMAN: Since I've been
on this new pain medication,
338
00:20:32,690 --> 00:20:34,400
I have not missed
one day of work,
339
00:20:34,400 --> 00:20:36,360
and my boss really
appreciates that.
340
00:20:36,360 --> 00:20:39,363
MARIANA: Prescriptions surged,
and patients were reassured
341
00:20:39,363 --> 00:20:41,240
that the risk of
addiction was low.
342
00:20:41,240 --> 00:20:45,077
MAN: Less than 1% of patients
taking opioids
343
00:20:45,077 --> 00:20:47,621
actually become addicted.
344
00:20:47,621 --> 00:20:49,123
MARIANA: They were very wrong.
345
00:20:49,123 --> 00:20:51,751
As fatal overdoses skyrocketed,
346
00:20:51,751 --> 00:20:55,463
doctors made prescription
opioids harder to get.
347
00:20:55,463 --> 00:20:59,550
Addicts turned to heroin,
and the crisis got worse.
348
00:20:59,550 --> 00:21:03,804
Then in 2015, fentanyl emerged
on the black market
349
00:21:03,804 --> 00:21:08,517
in a big way: potent, cheap, and
readily available on the street
350
00:21:08,517 --> 00:21:10,770
without a prescription.
351
00:21:10,770 --> 00:21:15,733
In the US, overdose rates
exploded to record highs.
352
00:21:15,733 --> 00:21:17,067
But here in Mexico,
353
00:21:17,067 --> 00:21:20,529
fentanyl became a boon
to the underworld economy.
354
00:21:22,239 --> 00:21:27,620
♪ ♪
355
00:21:27,620 --> 00:21:29,747
Which is why I've
journeyed inland
356
00:21:29,747 --> 00:21:31,624
to witness how
the cartels transform
357
00:21:31,624 --> 00:21:36,045
the precursor chemicals
into street‐ready drugs.
358
00:21:36,045 --> 00:21:41,175
(man singing in Spanish)
359
00:21:41,175 --> 00:21:43,803
It's happening tonight
in an underground lab
360
00:21:43,803 --> 00:21:45,721
where we'll get a glimpse
into the future
361
00:21:45,721 --> 00:21:47,515
of the Mexican drug trade.
362
00:22:25,678 --> 00:22:28,305
MARIANA: Unlike heroin,
cocaine or marijuana,
363
00:22:28,305 --> 00:22:32,393
fentanyl doesn't need farmland
or water or sunshine;
364
00:22:32,393 --> 00:22:35,229
it can all be made in
an underworld lab like this,
365
00:22:35,229 --> 00:22:38,148
by a handful of cartel chemists.
366
00:22:42,361 --> 00:22:44,530
MARIANA: So this, he's saying,
is the base to create the pills,
367
00:22:44,530 --> 00:22:48,492
the M‐30 pills, the Mexican oxy.
368
00:22:50,995 --> 00:22:54,164
M‐30 pills are imprinted
with an M on one side
369
00:22:54,164 --> 00:22:57,543
and the number 30 on the other
in an attempt to make them
370
00:22:57,543 --> 00:23:02,256
indistinguishable from
legitimate oxycodone pills.
371
00:23:02,256 --> 00:23:04,383
In just the last four years,
372
00:23:04,383 --> 00:23:06,969
millions of these
cartel‐manufactured pills
373
00:23:06,969 --> 00:23:10,764
have flooded America's streets.
374
00:23:10,764 --> 00:23:12,641
So you're saying just
this little amount here,
375
00:23:12,641 --> 00:23:14,852
if you were to ingest
this somehow,
376
00:23:14,852 --> 00:23:16,562
this amount could
kill you immediately.
377
00:23:16,562 --> 00:23:19,023
That's how powerful
this stuff is.
378
00:23:19,023 --> 00:23:21,108
(speaking Spanish)
379
00:23:21,108 --> 00:23:23,652
Okay, everybody,
we should put the masks on.
380
00:23:23,652 --> 00:23:27,948
This is where it starts
getting dangerous here.
381
00:23:27,948 --> 00:23:31,076
If these chemists combine
the raw materials just right,
382
00:23:31,076 --> 00:23:33,746
in a matter of hours, they'll
have successfully completed
383
00:23:33,746 --> 00:23:36,040
the next step in the process,
384
00:23:36,040 --> 00:23:38,959
creating sellable
black market fentanyl.
385
00:23:45,049 --> 00:23:47,259
MARIANA: This is
the pure fentanyl.
386
00:23:47,259 --> 00:23:50,679
They mixed all the liquids
that come from Asia,
387
00:23:50,679 --> 00:23:53,766
a lot of times from China,
they mix it and they make this.
388
00:24:26,799 --> 00:24:29,134
MARIANA: Like a veteran chef,
the chemist tells me
389
00:24:29,134 --> 00:24:32,930
his mixtures aren't entirely
based on careful measurements,
390
00:24:32,930 --> 00:24:35,140
but his own
physiological reactions
391
00:24:35,140 --> 00:24:37,059
to the chemical process.
392
00:24:51,448 --> 00:24:52,908
MARIANA: This is so crazy.
393
00:24:52,908 --> 00:24:54,535
Ooh. Look at this stuff.
394
00:25:00,416 --> 00:25:01,667
MARIANA: I'm hoping,
really, really hoping
395
00:25:01,667 --> 00:25:03,293
this guy knows what
he's doing here.
396
00:25:11,385 --> 00:25:13,178
MARIANA: I'm starting
to think my team and I
397
00:25:13,178 --> 00:25:14,888
should get the hell out of here.
398
00:25:14,888 --> 00:25:17,891
Outlaw narco chemists
accidentally kill themselves
399
00:25:17,891 --> 00:25:20,019
all the time.
400
00:25:20,019 --> 00:25:21,562
This is so nuts.
401
00:25:49,923 --> 00:25:52,342
MARIANA: I'm in
the Sinaloan countryside,
402
00:25:52,342 --> 00:25:54,219
I can't disclose where exactly,
403
00:25:54,219 --> 00:25:57,014
in an underground lab
with a cartel chemist
404
00:25:57,014 --> 00:26:00,267
who is perfecting his latest
shipment of fentanyl.
405
00:26:10,194 --> 00:26:15,032
MARIANA: Turns out, he's a bit
like a Mexican Walter White.
406
00:26:15,032 --> 00:26:17,743
He runs a legitimate
business by day,
407
00:26:17,743 --> 00:26:19,578
but for the past four years,
408
00:26:19,578 --> 00:26:22,206
he's been moonlighting
for the Sinaloa cartel.
409
00:26:37,346 --> 00:26:38,722
MARIANA: Once the paste dries
410
00:26:38,722 --> 00:26:40,974
and the room clears
of deadly fumes,
411
00:26:40,974 --> 00:26:43,519
I'm told it's okay
to take off our masks.
412
00:26:51,944 --> 00:26:53,570
MARIANA: Now that
the chemical ingredients
413
00:26:53,570 --> 00:26:58,117
are properly balanced, it's time
to craft the fake M‐30 pills,
414
00:26:58,117 --> 00:27:01,829
each one designed to mimic
the look of OxyContin,
415
00:27:01,829 --> 00:27:04,456
the most popular painkiller
in America.
416
00:28:02,097 --> 00:28:04,099
MARIANA: Maybe, but that's
not what I've seen
417
00:28:04,099 --> 00:28:06,268
on America's streets.
418
00:28:30,250 --> 00:28:31,793
MARIANA: It's clear that's
nothing is going to stop
419
00:28:31,793 --> 00:28:33,795
the process tonight,
420
00:28:33,795 --> 00:28:38,216
and all that's left is
to press the paste into pills.
421
00:28:40,010 --> 00:28:42,137
The chemist tells me
he makes $100
422
00:28:42,137 --> 00:28:44,306
for every 20,000 pills.
423
00:28:44,306 --> 00:28:46,183
Which means that
on any given night,
424
00:28:46,183 --> 00:28:48,060
he can make
a few thousand dollars.
425
00:29:13,335 --> 00:29:16,421
MARIANA: A sense of dread
follows me north.
426
00:29:16,421 --> 00:29:18,840
Soon, these pills
will find their way
427
00:29:18,840 --> 00:29:21,843
into the hands
of American users,
428
00:29:21,843 --> 00:29:24,721
and we know what happens then.
429
00:29:24,721 --> 00:29:26,056
(baby crying)
430
00:29:26,056 --> 00:29:27,057
MAN: Oh, my god.
431
00:29:27,057 --> 00:29:29,101
MAN: Hello. Hey!
432
00:29:29,101 --> 00:29:31,728
Andie, Andie, Andie.
433
00:29:31,728 --> 00:29:35,732
MARIANA: But down here among
Mexico's narco traffickers,
434
00:29:35,732 --> 00:29:39,778
fentanyl isn't a deadly opioid.
435
00:29:39,778 --> 00:29:41,822
It's an opportunity.
436
00:30:01,925 --> 00:30:04,428
MARIANA: The ugly truth
is that fentanyl supports
437
00:30:04,428 --> 00:30:07,723
an incredibly lucrative
underworld economy.
438
00:30:07,723 --> 00:30:10,809
That means jobs for
cartel accountants,
439
00:30:10,809 --> 00:30:13,228
couriers, and chemists.
440
00:30:13,228 --> 00:30:16,690
And for the those who undertake
one of the most dangerous roles
441
00:30:16,690 --> 00:30:20,402
in the pipeline: prepping
the drugs for the final crossing
442
00:30:20,402 --> 00:30:22,946
into the United States.
443
00:30:22,946 --> 00:30:26,074
(horns honking)
444
00:30:30,829 --> 00:30:33,248
Just south of
the US‐Mexican border,
445
00:30:33,248 --> 00:30:38,045
I've been granted access to film
with these so‐called packers.
446
00:30:38,045 --> 00:30:40,922
But we have to move fast;
they're scheduled to smuggle
447
00:30:40,922 --> 00:30:44,426
another fentanyl load
across tonight.
448
00:30:44,426 --> 00:30:46,762
So they just sent us a location.
449
00:30:46,762 --> 00:30:51,058
It looks like it's about
seven miles from the US border.
450
00:30:51,058 --> 00:30:54,811
It definitely looks like we
entered the rough part of town.
451
00:30:54,811 --> 00:30:58,356
So let's just be discreet.
452
00:30:58,356 --> 00:31:00,442
We're here. This is it.
453
00:31:00,442 --> 00:31:08,450
♪ ♪
454
00:31:33,183 --> 00:31:35,936
MARIANA: Our hosts are tense
for good reason.
455
00:31:35,936 --> 00:31:39,523
Right now they're in possession
of five kilos of fentanyl
456
00:31:39,523 --> 00:31:42,776
that's worth millions of dollars
on the streets of America.
457
00:31:44,736 --> 00:31:46,446
Whoa.
458
00:31:56,164 --> 00:31:58,083
MARIANA: They tell me
there are cops and competitors
459
00:31:58,083 --> 00:31:59,918
everywhere in Mexico,
460
00:31:59,918 --> 00:32:03,839
many willing to kill to corner
the fentanyl marketplace.
461
00:32:12,764 --> 00:32:15,308
MARIANA: Using ordinary
household ingredients,
462
00:32:15,308 --> 00:32:18,186
these packers will make
five kilos of fentanyl
463
00:32:18,186 --> 00:32:20,564
invisible to
the eyes of the law.
464
00:32:20,564 --> 00:32:22,983
And I'm about to see
how it's done.
465
00:32:28,405 --> 00:32:34,661
(siren)
466
00:32:34,661 --> 00:32:37,998
MARIANA: I'm seven miles south
of the US‐Mexico border,
467
00:32:37,998 --> 00:32:40,375
about to witness
how the Sinaloa cartel
468
00:32:40,375 --> 00:32:44,129
smuggles five kilos of fentanyl
into the United States.
469
00:32:47,132 --> 00:32:49,342
Despite the green light
I've been given,
470
00:32:49,342 --> 00:32:52,804
the packers prepping the
shipment are extremely anxious.
471
00:32:52,804 --> 00:32:55,348
(speaking Spanish)
472
00:32:55,348 --> 00:32:57,225
So he's trying, he's talking,
473
00:32:57,225 --> 00:32:59,561
and I can see this guy's
getting really nervous,
474
00:32:59,561 --> 00:33:02,272
and telling him to speed up,
because he says the person
475
00:33:02,272 --> 00:33:05,609
that's gonna take it across the
border is arriving any moment,
476
00:33:05,609 --> 00:33:07,777
and he wants to make sure
that he can get all of this
477
00:33:07,777 --> 00:33:09,821
out of this house
as soon as possible.
478
00:33:20,707 --> 00:33:22,876
MARIANA: He's putting coffee
on it right now.
479
00:33:29,591 --> 00:33:32,636
MARIANA: I'm watching
a shadowy game of cat and mouse.
480
00:33:32,636 --> 00:33:34,971
In less than an hour,
these drugs are headed
481
00:33:34,971 --> 00:33:36,848
to the most frequently crossed
482
00:33:36,848 --> 00:33:40,393
and one of most heavily
patrolled borders in the world.
483
00:33:43,647 --> 00:33:46,483
Last year,
US Customs and Border Protection
484
00:33:46,483 --> 00:33:50,028
seized more than
a ton of fentanyl.
485
00:33:50,028 --> 00:33:52,113
And yet, these packers
plan on foiling
486
00:33:52,113 --> 00:33:55,033
thousands of
highly trained agents
487
00:33:55,033 --> 00:33:57,702
and billions of dollars
of surveillance technology
488
00:33:57,702 --> 00:34:00,914
with little more than
homemade ingenuity.
489
00:34:00,914 --> 00:34:01,998
He has other products here.
490
00:34:01,998 --> 00:34:04,167
He has mustard. He has...
491
00:34:04,167 --> 00:34:08,880
(speaking Spanish)
492
00:34:08,880 --> 00:34:11,341
MARIANA: Softener.
Laundry softener.
493
00:34:11,341 --> 00:34:14,636
And all this is to avoid
any sort of smell.
494
00:34:14,636 --> 00:34:17,347
So crazy.
495
00:34:17,347 --> 00:34:20,475
Coffee, fabric softener,
and mustard.
496
00:34:20,475 --> 00:34:23,228
There's simply no way
to describe the smell.
497
00:34:23,228 --> 00:34:28,316
But the one thing it doesn't
smell like is drugs.
498
00:34:28,316 --> 00:34:31,486
Layer after layer,
every coat could mean
499
00:34:31,486 --> 00:34:34,739
the difference between
failure and profit.
500
00:34:34,739 --> 00:34:36,825
But dogs aren't
the only concern.
501
00:34:43,999 --> 00:34:47,752
MARIANA: So now they're able to
disguise the smell for the dogs,
502
00:34:47,752 --> 00:34:49,754
and also for the x‐ray machines
503
00:34:49,754 --> 00:34:51,756
they have this
carbon paper around it.
504
00:34:57,596 --> 00:35:00,015
MARIANA: The packers tell me
they'll make $2,000
505
00:35:00,015 --> 00:35:05,103
for their work tonight,
$400 per package.
506
00:35:05,103 --> 00:35:07,897
And just like everyone
I've met on this journey,
507
00:35:07,897 --> 00:35:10,358
they do their job and
then they pass the drugs on
508
00:35:10,358 --> 00:35:13,028
to the next link
in the supply chain.
509
00:35:16,531 --> 00:35:20,702
MARIANA: The girl he's referring
to is tonight's driver.
510
00:35:20,702 --> 00:35:23,163
In the trafficking world,
she's called a drug mule,
511
00:35:23,163 --> 00:35:25,165
but I'll call her Beatriz.
512
00:35:46,728 --> 00:35:49,898
MARIANA: Beatriz tells me she's
been doing this for a year
513
00:35:49,898 --> 00:35:52,651
and makes $3,000 per crossing.
514
00:36:46,538 --> 00:36:48,498
MARIANA:
After we finished speaking,
515
00:36:48,498 --> 00:36:51,751
Beatriz agrees to let me
follow her to the border.
516
00:36:51,751 --> 00:36:55,463
The car parked in front, that's
where all the drugs are stashed,
517
00:36:55,463 --> 00:37:00,427
all ready to go up to the US.
518
00:37:00,427 --> 00:37:02,262
And I think she's
about to leave.
519
00:37:07,892 --> 00:37:10,603
Fentanyl trafficking convictions
in the US have increased
520
00:37:10,603 --> 00:37:14,983
by nearly 5,000%
over the past six years,
521
00:37:14,983 --> 00:37:16,234
and those who are caught
522
00:37:16,234 --> 00:37:19,946
are almost always
sentenced to prison.
523
00:37:19,946 --> 00:37:25,160
Right now, Beatriz has five
kilos of it hidden in her trunk.
524
00:37:25,160 --> 00:37:27,036
Where the heck is she going?
525
00:37:27,036 --> 00:37:30,623
Something's wrong.
526
00:37:30,623 --> 00:37:35,587
(siren)
527
00:37:35,587 --> 00:37:37,589
Oh, my god.
528
00:37:37,589 --> 00:37:41,301
She's seriously being followed
by police, I'm not even joking.
529
00:37:41,301 --> 00:37:43,303
Right?
530
00:37:43,303 --> 00:37:44,304
Yeah.
531
00:37:44,304 --> 00:37:47,265
Oh, my lord. What do we do?
532
00:37:49,184 --> 00:37:52,270
I don't think
we should go too close.
533
00:37:52,270 --> 00:37:54,856
We need to figure out
what the plan is now.
534
00:37:57,442 --> 00:38:00,862
We were following her
for, I mean, 10 seconds,
535
00:38:00,862 --> 00:38:03,782
and then suddenly we see a
police car come out of nowhere.
536
00:38:07,952 --> 00:38:10,246
What the (bleep)?
Why? What happened?
537
00:38:21,174 --> 00:38:23,718
MARIANA: Just two miles south
of the US‐Mexico border,
538
00:38:23,718 --> 00:38:28,056
the drug mule I've been tracking
is pulled over by police.
539
00:38:28,056 --> 00:38:31,226
Her trunk is filled with
five kilos of fentanyl,
540
00:38:31,226 --> 00:38:35,188
worth millions of dollars
on the street.
541
00:38:35,188 --> 00:38:37,065
And she was stopped by
the police over there.
542
00:38:37,065 --> 00:38:41,069
I assume Beatriz is busted.
543
00:38:41,069 --> 00:38:44,280
But the cops never
opened her trunk.
544
00:38:44,280 --> 00:38:48,034
And minutes later,
she drives off.
545
00:38:48,034 --> 00:38:50,286
I catch up with her
further down the road.
546
00:39:06,511 --> 00:39:09,681
MARIANA: Beatriz is shaken, so
she decides to stay the night.
547
00:39:13,560 --> 00:39:18,773
But the following day,
she's at it again.
548
00:39:18,773 --> 00:39:20,984
And I'm not far behind.
549
00:39:26,281 --> 00:39:29,868
She has to be super nervous,
you know?
550
00:39:29,868 --> 00:39:35,456
She's packing
five kilos of fentanyl.
551
00:39:35,456 --> 00:39:37,625
So it's a very strange feeling,
because on the one hand,
552
00:39:37,625 --> 00:39:40,503
we've met her and we don't
want her to get caught,
553
00:39:40,503 --> 00:39:42,463
and I'm actually
nervous for her.
554
00:39:42,463 --> 00:39:45,133
But on the other hand,
she has a car packed with drugs
555
00:39:45,133 --> 00:39:49,137
that can kill
a lot of people in the US.
556
00:39:49,137 --> 00:39:50,597
It's complicated.
557
00:39:50,597 --> 00:39:54,392
I know Beatriz has a growing
family to provide for.
558
00:39:54,392 --> 00:39:57,729
But in all my years reporting
on the opioid crisis,
559
00:39:57,729 --> 00:40:01,399
it's the parents who lost
sons and daughters to overdoses
560
00:40:01,399 --> 00:40:03,526
that I remember the most.
561
00:40:03,526 --> 00:40:04,903
GIRL: Mom, wake up.
562
00:40:04,903 --> 00:40:08,281
Come on. Ma, Ma, Ma!
563
00:40:08,281 --> 00:40:10,950
MARIANA: And I can't help but
wonder what they might think
564
00:40:10,950 --> 00:40:13,828
as I watch Beatriz attempt
to carry a deadly shipment
565
00:40:13,828 --> 00:40:16,748
across the border.
566
00:40:16,748 --> 00:40:19,584
But this is how a majority of
drugs are smuggled into the US
567
00:40:19,584 --> 00:40:21,544
according to the DEA.
568
00:40:21,544 --> 00:40:24,422
Through legal ports of entry
on the southwest border,
569
00:40:24,422 --> 00:40:28,718
stashed in passenger vehicles
or tractor trailers.
570
00:40:28,718 --> 00:40:31,971
And I'm here to
witness it for myself.
571
00:40:31,971 --> 00:40:35,350
She was stopped,
she's being checked right now.
572
00:40:35,350 --> 00:40:37,143
I would say just put
the cameras entirely down.
573
00:40:41,356 --> 00:40:44,776
Last night, I watched the cartel
packers slather her cargo
574
00:40:44,776 --> 00:40:47,695
in coffee, mustard,
and fabric softener,
575
00:40:47,695 --> 00:40:51,574
all to avoid detection by
America's drug‐sniffing dogs.
576
00:40:51,574 --> 00:40:53,284
As the K‐9 units approach,
577
00:40:53,284 --> 00:40:56,788
I'm about to see if
their method actually works.
578
00:40:56,788 --> 00:40:59,457
So they're opening
the trunk right now.
579
00:40:59,457 --> 00:41:03,002
They're looking under the hood.
580
00:41:03,002 --> 00:41:06,089
This is a really
uncomfortable moment.
581
00:41:08,132 --> 00:41:09,509
(exhales)
582
00:41:09,509 --> 00:41:13,596
And then, just when I'm
certain she's busted...
583
00:41:13,596 --> 00:41:15,682
Oh, my god.
584
00:41:15,682 --> 00:41:18,226
They're letting her go.
585
00:41:18,226 --> 00:41:22,480
Yeah, she's just going
into her car and leaving.
586
00:41:22,480 --> 00:41:24,023
I can't believe it.
587
00:41:24,023 --> 00:41:26,484
They just let her go.
I can't believe it.
588
00:41:26,484 --> 00:41:32,949
♪ ♪
589
00:41:32,949 --> 00:41:35,952
(exhales)
590
00:41:35,952 --> 00:41:37,578
Beatriz agrees
to meet up with us
591
00:41:37,578 --> 00:41:40,581
a few miles north of the border.
592
00:41:40,581 --> 00:41:41,749
I'm just gonna talk
to her real quick.
593
00:41:41,749 --> 00:41:44,752
She's right here.
594
00:41:44,752 --> 00:41:46,713
(speaking Spanish)
595
00:41:46,713 --> 00:41:47,422
I cannot believe...
596
00:41:59,976 --> 00:42:01,436
MARIANA:
Despite how nerve‐racking
597
00:42:01,436 --> 00:42:03,187
crossing the border was,
598
00:42:03,187 --> 00:42:07,191
Beatriz tells me she doesn't
think she'll ever go to prison.
599
00:42:31,924 --> 00:42:35,470
MARIANA: While there's no way
for me to confirm this,
600
00:42:35,470 --> 00:42:39,432
it's well‐documented that part
of the Sinaloa cartel's strategy
601
00:42:39,432 --> 00:42:42,685
is to infiltrate and corrupt
America's border agents
602
00:42:42,685 --> 00:42:44,771
with lucrative payoffs.
603
00:42:55,740 --> 00:42:58,618
MARIANA: And there she goes
with five kilos of fentanyl.
604
00:43:01,788 --> 00:43:05,458
When I contacted CBP for
comment, they told us, quote,
605
00:43:05,458 --> 00:43:07,376
"US Customs and
Border Protection
606
00:43:07,376 --> 00:43:13,049
seized over 750,000 pounds
of illegal narcotics in 2019.
607
00:43:13,049 --> 00:43:15,051
Our officers remain relentless
608
00:43:15,051 --> 00:43:19,722
and are always working to stay
one step ahead of the cartels."
609
00:43:19,722 --> 00:43:21,974
But with so much
demand for drugs
610
00:43:21,974 --> 00:43:27,480
and so much money to be made,
it's a difficult task.
611
00:43:27,480 --> 00:43:31,567
In recent years, there have been
almost 200 drug overdose deaths
612
00:43:31,567 --> 00:43:35,363
in the US every single day.
613
00:43:35,363 --> 00:43:38,032
And fentanyl is
the major reason.
614
00:43:38,032 --> 00:43:40,827
I'm eager to follow
this road to the end
615
00:43:40,827 --> 00:43:45,915
to expose just how easy it is
for these traffickers,
616
00:43:45,915 --> 00:43:48,543
but I'm also aware
the shipment I'm tracking
617
00:43:48,543 --> 00:43:50,461
might end up killing someone.
618
00:43:53,965 --> 00:43:56,425
So we were just
given this location
619
00:43:56,425 --> 00:44:00,054
right next to the 710 Freeway
here in Los Angeles.
620
00:44:00,054 --> 00:44:03,099
It's at the end of
a dead‐end street.
621
00:44:05,560 --> 00:44:10,481
And I think that's, I think
that's actually our woman,
622
00:44:10,481 --> 00:44:13,568
with the drugs inside her car.
623
00:44:13,568 --> 00:44:16,988
There's a guy in
an orange jumpsuit with a mask.
624
00:44:16,988 --> 00:44:23,703
♪ ♪
625
00:44:23,703 --> 00:44:26,622
So it looks like that's where
they're doing the deal,
626
00:44:26,622 --> 00:44:28,332
right here out in the open.
627
00:44:32,128 --> 00:44:35,798
The masked men tell me
they're all native Angelenos,
628
00:44:35,798 --> 00:44:40,595
American citizens who work
directly for the Sinaloa cartel.
629
00:44:40,595 --> 00:44:42,597
But like everyone else I've met,
630
00:44:42,597 --> 00:44:47,185
they focus on their jobs
and ask no questions.
631
00:44:47,185 --> 00:44:49,520
Do you know what's
in these packages?
632
00:44:49,520 --> 00:44:51,105
You really don't care
what you're transporting?
633
00:44:55,234 --> 00:44:57,069
MARIANA: So can you tell me more
or less where they're heading?
634
00:44:59,447 --> 00:45:00,948
MAN: This is one of the main
distribution areas
635
00:45:00,948 --> 00:45:02,325
that we have here.
636
00:45:11,250 --> 00:45:12,710
MARIANA: This is very much
like a hot potato
637
00:45:12,710 --> 00:45:15,296
where they just want to get it
out as soon as possible.
638
00:45:15,296 --> 00:45:17,423
It was incredible,
because you saw she arrived,
639
00:45:17,423 --> 00:45:19,550
and within, I don't know,
under 10 minutes,
640
00:45:19,550 --> 00:45:21,636
they had managed to take
the drugs out of her car,
641
00:45:21,636 --> 00:45:25,348
put it in their car,
and then they're off.
642
00:45:25,348 --> 00:45:26,891
And he says he does this
every other week,
643
00:45:26,891 --> 00:45:28,517
which is crazy.
644
00:45:31,103 --> 00:45:34,106
(siren)
645
00:45:34,106 --> 00:45:35,608
OFFICER: There you go.
OFFICER: You got it?
646
00:45:35,608 --> 00:45:39,278
WOMAN: Stay with me.
Stay with me. Stay with me.
647
00:45:39,278 --> 00:45:40,363
WOMAN:
Got three Narcan deployments.
648
00:45:40,363 --> 00:45:42,281
(siren)
649
00:45:42,281 --> 00:45:44,367
MARIANA: Never have so many
people been addicted
650
00:45:44,367 --> 00:45:47,912
to such a deadly narcotic.
651
00:45:47,912 --> 00:45:52,750
Never has the need for solutions
been more urgent.
652
00:45:52,750 --> 00:45:58,047
I worry that the fentanyl supply
chain seems too big to fail.
653
00:45:58,047 --> 00:46:00,258
Too many people benefit,
654
00:46:00,258 --> 00:46:03,469
and I've met many of them
along my journey,
655
00:46:03,469 --> 00:46:08,641
from the chemical companies in
Asia to the cartels' chemists.
656
00:46:08,641 --> 00:46:13,062
Americans will have to find
a way to slow the demand,
657
00:46:13,062 --> 00:46:15,648
because the suppliers
will always find
658
00:46:15,648 --> 00:46:21,028
a faster and more profitable way
to deliver the goods.
659
00:46:33,124 --> 00:46:35,501
MARIANA: In fact, they tell me
the cartels have begun
660
00:46:35,501 --> 00:46:39,672
to do just that by eliminating
their Asian suppliers.
661
00:46:47,513 --> 00:46:50,266
MARIANA: If that's true,
the worst may be yet to come
662
00:46:50,266 --> 00:46:52,393
for America's opioid epidemic.
663
00:47:05,281 --> 00:47:07,158
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