Govt vows to fight fentanyl spread

(ANSA) - ROME, MAY 9 - The Italian government on Thursday vowed to fight the spread of fentanyl after the synthetic 'zombie drug' that has ravaged America was found in some batches of heroin in Italy.
    "We are ready to do deals with all countries to fight synthetic drugs, an issue that will be central to the summit with central Asian countries," Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani told a press conference after a government summit.
    "We will make a commitment to combat synthetic drugs with the United States and withing the G7", which Italy currently chairs, said Tajani.
    "It is a global battle: we will certainly work with the UN and also with China.
    "It is a phenomenon that must be nipped in the bud before it has too large numbers".
    Sabrina Rossi Strano, head of Italy's forensic toxicologists, told the summit that fentanyly had been found in four drug-linked autopsies last year and in one case it was the primary cause of death.
    Cabinet Secretary Alberto Mantovano told the conference that the dark web, espcially Chinese sites,was the main entry way for fentanyl in Italy, which had recently been found in a cut dose of heroin.
    Health Minister Orazio Schillaci said "it is important to be ready for an increase in the diffusion of this drug". (ANSA).