Lawmakers dig into illicit fentanyl from China

Senate lawmakers are holding a hearing this morning to investigate the trafficking of illegal fentanyl from China into the U.S. The Senate caucus, which focuses on control of international narcotics, tapped a slew of experts to talk about tackling the issue, including representatives from the Justice Department, the FDA, and the Department of Homeland Security. It’s not clear what share of illicit fentanyl is imported from China, but experts are increasingly concerned about the role the powerful drug is playing in the opioid crisis. Fentanyl contributed to 60 percent of opioid overdose deaths in 2017, according to federal data.