WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) — The White House is pushing new efforts to stop illegal drugs from entering the country as part of Overdose Awareness Week.
The administration is calling for better drug detection machines and more Border Patrol agents.
“So critical to securing our southwest border,” Dr. Rahul Gupta, Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, said.
Dr. Gupta is calling on Congress to provide funding to stop illegal drugs from coming into the country.
“President Biden and Vice President Harris know that far too many Americans understand the pain of losing a loved one to overdose.”
Gupta says the White House has already made strides to combat illegal drugs at the border.
“In the last two years, we’ve seized more fentanyl than the previous five years combined,” Gupta said.
While the White House wants to beef up efforts at the southern border conservative groups are blaming China for the deadly drugs.
“While many Americans may rightly so and should rightly so, or in Mexico and hold those cartels accountable for their illegal actions, we cannot lose sight that the Chinese Communist Party is fueling this. More than many may realize,” said Andrew Harding of the Heritage Foundation.
Andrew Harding, with the Heritage Foundation, says the federal government needs to crack down on China because they are the source.
“We have to carry a bigger stick and finally use it,” Harding said.
Harding says that means placing financial sanctions on China and going after those who are benefiting from the suffering occurring in the U.S.
