Senator Maggie Hassan recently visited the U.S.-Mexico border to meet officials and law enforcement working on the front lines of the illicit drug trade.
During her five-day trip, Hassan met with Mexican leaders, too. One of her main focuses was fentanyl, the drug which contributed to 76 percent of overdose deaths in New Hampshire last year.
“The Mexican officials agree that their cartels are trafficking a great deal of fentanyl,” Hassan said.
She says Mexican drug enforcement is also focused on working to eradicate the poppy fields located in the country, which are a major contributor to the heroin supply.
Hassan added that a greater law enforcement force is needed to combat the drug trade on both sides of the border.
“They [Mexico] need significantly more professionalized federal police officers to really help combat the cartels,” Hassan said.
Currently, U.S. Customs and Border Protection has authorized positions that remain unfilled, according to Hassan.
