Cartels Use Animal Tranquilizer Produced in China to Make Fentanyl More Addictive

‘Now there’s another synthetic … It’s absolute insanity. And they all start in China,’ said April Babcock, whose son died from a fentanyl overdose.

Tests strips, used to detect the presence of fentanyl and xylazine in drugs such as cocaine, methamphetamine, and heroin, lay next to a bag of heroin at St. Ann's Corner of Harm Reduction in New York City on May 25, 2023. Angela Weiss/AFP via Getty Images

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Cartels Use Animal Tranquilizer Produced in China to Make Fentanyl More Addictive

‘Now there’s another synthetic … It’s absolute insanity. And they all start in China,’ said April Babcock, whose son died from a fentanyl overdose.

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By Darlene McCormick Sanchez

February 02, 2026Updated:February 02, 2026

Medetomidine, a powerful animal sedative used by veterinarians, is fast becoming the adulterant of choice for drug cartels pushing fentanyl on American streets. It is mainly produced in China.

Also known as “rhino tranq,” medetomidine is showing up more frequently than its cousin xylazine, a pain reliever, in the illicit drug supply in places such as New York, Philadelphia, and Chicago, according to public health alerts.

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