America’s Fentanyl Crisis Started ‘On Purpose’ by Mexican Cartels, Attorney General Testifies

U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland testifies before the Senate Judiciary Committee in the Hart Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill on March 01, 2023 in Washington. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Attorney General Merrick Garland on March 1 told the Senate Judiciary Committee that the fentanyl crisis raging across the United States was started “on purpose” by Mexican drug cartels.

Fentanyl and Mexican drug cartels were a key focus for Republicans during the hearing, which marked Garland’s third appearance before the Judiciary Committee as attorney general but his first appearance during the 118th Congress.