russian Occupiers Are Getting Hooked on the “Elephant” Drug

In russia, the number of cases of seizures of the dangerous synthetic drug carfentanyl is increasing.

The drug is five thousand times stronger than heroin, and its lethal dose for humans is only 0.002 mg, compared to heroin’s 70 mg. Carfentanyl is a synthetic opioid, a derivative of fentanyl. It was developed in 1974 by Janssen as a veterinary sedative for large animals (elephants, rhinos, buffaloes). This drug is officially allowed in China, from where it is shipped to russia. Due to its high concentration, the drug enters the rf in small batches, making it difficult to detect.

The drug is mostly seized in eastern regions of russia – Siberia, the Far East and the Urals. Carfentanyl is not produced in the rf, as its synthesis requires special conditions and protective equipment due to its high toxicity. The drug is sold through closed channels in messengers.

In 2024-2025 alone, about 15 cases of carfentanyl seizures were recorded in russia. The total weight of drugs containing this substance was at least 1.1 kg. The largest batches were seized in Kemerovo (200 g and 700 g), Kurgan (100 g), as well as in Novosibirsk and Syzran.

The increase in the amount of seized carfentanyl, as well as the frequency of new cases, indicates a deterioration in the drug situation in russia. The functioning of established channels of drug trafficking in russia and the distribution of such substances among the military personnel of the russian armed forces create conditions for the unimpeded distribution of carfentanyl in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine.