Natalie Kitroweth

So the original plan was to go into this lab in the morning, but there was a problem. The cooks who were inviting us to see the process told us that they had just gotten busted. And so they needed to move locations and they were going to put a makeshift lab.

So the original plan was to go into this lab in the morning, but there was a problem. The cooks who were inviting us to see the process told us that they had just gotten busted. And so they needed to move locations and they were going to put a makeshift lab.

We didn't really know where at that point, but, you know, several hours later, then into the evening, we find out that it's going to be in the center of the capital city where we are, Kulia Khan. So we drive to this location, and it's a busy street. I mean, there's taco stands outside. People are walking around. It's not, you know, a deserted area in the middle of nowhere.

We didn't really know where at that point, but, you know, several hours later, then into the evening, we find out that it's going to be in the center of the capital city where we are, Kulia Khan. So we drive to this location, and it's a busy street. I mean, there's taco stands outside. People are walking around. It's not, you know, a deserted area in the middle of nowhere.

I mean, it looked like any other house. And as far as I could tell, all the people walking by had absolutely no idea that inside what looked like a normal house was an active fentanyl lab at that point. When we go in, it's pitch black, and we immediately smell a very, very intense smell. It's like a strong smell of chemicals.

I mean, it looked like any other house. And as far as I could tell, all the people walking by had absolutely no idea that inside what looked like a normal house was an active fentanyl lab at that point. When we go in, it's pitch black, and we immediately smell a very, very intense smell. It's like a strong smell of chemicals.

In our context that we're working with, say, this is the textbook smell of fentanyl. And at the end of this pitch black kind of hallway, we see two 20-something guys. They introduce themselves. They say we can bring in one phone and one camera. But we agree that we're not going to publish any recordings that have their voices on them or photos that might identify their faces.

In our context that we're working with, say, this is the textbook smell of fentanyl. And at the end of this pitch black kind of hallway, we see two 20-something guys. They introduce themselves. They say we can bring in one phone and one camera. But we agree that we're not going to publish any recordings that have their voices on them or photos that might identify their faces.

And we start getting suited up at this point. And what that means is we're putting on hazmat suits. We're putting on our gas masks. We put on gloves. We're preparing to come in contact with a very toxic substance. We walked down the hall with them and then we went in.

And we start getting suited up at this point. And what that means is we're putting on hazmat suits. We're putting on our gas masks. We put on gloves. We're preparing to come in contact with a very toxic substance. We walked down the hall with them and then we went in.

And I realize that we're in what's a really basic kitchen. I mean, there's not a lot of advanced equipment here. I'm watching the fumes come off two pots that are on a regular kitchen stove. They have two pots on the stove that, you know, are being heated with liquid. They have trays with chemicals on them. They have jugs with powder in them. But apart from that, there isn't that much to it.

And I realize that we're in what's a really basic kitchen. I mean, there's not a lot of advanced equipment here. I'm watching the fumes come off two pots that are on a regular kitchen stove. They have two pots on the stove that, you know, are being heated with liquid. They have trays with chemicals on them. They have jugs with powder in them. But apart from that, there isn't that much to it.

It looks like any other kitchen.

It looks like any other kitchen.

They have beers that they're clearly drinking while they do this. At one point, one of the cooks asks the other one for this essential chemical ingredient, and the guy turns around to the food pantry and pulls out a jug of it that's just next to hot sauce and other stuff that you might actually use to make food.

They have beers that they're clearly drinking while they do this. At one point, one of the cooks asks the other one for this essential chemical ingredient, and the guy turns around to the food pantry and pulls out a jug of it that's just next to hot sauce and other stuff that you might actually use to make food.

And they're handling this blue powder that is close to what would be pressed into a pill. And you can just see the blue seeping in. This is the kind of pill you see on American streets, these baby blue fentanyl pills. They start showing me, like, look, we dye it blue if the client wants it blue. So it was just remarkable how commonplace all of this seemed to them.

And they're handling this blue powder that is close to what would be pressed into a pill. And you can just see the blue seeping in. This is the kind of pill you see on American streets, these baby blue fentanyl pills. They start showing me, like, look, we dye it blue if the client wants it blue. So it was just remarkable how commonplace all of this seemed to them.

I think the main takeaway that I had leaving the lab was this is a drug that is extraordinarily easy to produce in almost any conditions. And once you get the product, the amount that you need to make a lot of money if you're the cartel or if you're a user to potentially kill you is tiny. I mean, the U.S.

I think the main takeaway that I had leaving the lab was this is a drug that is extraordinarily easy to produce in almost any conditions. And once you get the product, the amount that you need to make a lot of money if you're the cartel or if you're a user to potentially kill you is tiny. I mean, the U.S.