President Donald Trump has signed an executive order designating “illicit fentanyl and its core precursor chemicals” as Weapons of Mass Destruction, saying the synthetic opioid is “closer to a chemical weapon than a narcotic” and could be weaponised for concentrated, large-scale attacks.

The order frames cartel-driven fentanyl production and distribution as a national security issue, citing hundreds of thousands of US overdose deaths and the risk of terror use. It directs a whole-of-government response that spans criminal prosecutions, sanctions and military planning:

• The Attorney General is instructed to pursue investigations and prosecutions of fentanyl trafficking, including using charging options, sentencing enhancements and variances.
• The Secretaries of State and the Treasury are told to take actions against assets and financial institutions involved in the fentanyl trade, in line with applicable law.
• The order states the Secretary of War and the Attorney General will determine whether resources from the Department of War should be provided to the Department of Justice to support enforcement. It also directs the Secretary of War, in consultation with Homeland Security, to update Armed Forces directives for responding to chemical incidents in the homeland to include fentanyl.
• Homeland Security is tasked with identifying fentanyl smuggling networks using WMD and non-proliferation intelligence to support counter-fentanyl operations.

The order defines “illicit fentanyl” by reference to offences under the US Controlled Substances Act and lists “core precursor chemicals” such as piperidone. It includes standard clauses stating it creates no enforceable rights and must be implemented consistent with law and available funding.

The WMD designation is unusual for a drug category and signals the US will lean more heavily on national security authorities, including the potential use of asset freezes and other financial tools against actors linked to the supply chain.

Implications for New Zealand will flow through law enforcement cooperation, export controls on listed precursors, and financial compliance for banks and shippers dealing with US-linked transactions. NZ authorities have previously warned about isolated incidents involving fentanyl-laced substances and have increased border screening for synthetic opioids and precursors. Customs, Police and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade have been approached for comment on whether the US move will trigger changes to domestic settings or joint operations.