DHS Considering Classifying Fentanyl as Weapon of Mass Destruction
The Department of Homeland Security is reportedly considering classifying fentanyl as a weapon of mass destruction. It is weighing whether to classify the opioid drug “when certain criteria are met,” such as when it is transported in such a quantity and configured in such a way that it could potentially be used as a weapon.
The FBI Weapons of Mass Destruction Directorate assessed that “fentanyl is very likely a viable option for a chemical weapon attack.” However, Dan Kaszeta, a defense expert, says that the threat of the drug being used as a weapon is a “fringe scenario” since there are several available toxic chemicals that could be used.
