NYC: Daycare Owner Concealed Illicit Drug Trade

Facts

• Federal prosecutors have alleged that Grei Mendez, the owner of a New York City daycare where a toddler died last week after being exposed to a lethal opioid, was connected to a drug distribution ring.¹
• According to the federal criminal complaint, Mendez allegedly deleted over 20K messages between her and her still-wanted husband from March 2021 to the day the child died from fentanyl exposure at her facility.²
• Authorities claim that Mendez and her cousin-in-law Carlisto Acevedo Brito used Divino Niño Daycare to hide their actual operation — a fentanyl drug mill. They also allege that Mendez tipped her husband off that cops were looking for him.³
• One-year-old Nicholas Domicini died of a suspected fentanyl overdose at Mendez's daycare on Sept. 15. Three children, aged between eight months and two years old, were additionally hospitalized after they reportedly inhaled the potent synthetic opioid.⁴
• Officials say they found a kilogram of fentanyl stored on top of children's playmats as well as multiple devices for mixing the substance with other narcotics and pressing it into bricks.⁵
• Mendez and Brito were hit with new federal narcotics conspiracy charges on Tuesday. They were previously charged in state court with murder of 'depraved indifference' in connection with Dominici's death.⁶

Sources: ¹FOX News, ²Abc news, ³New York Post, ⁴BBC News, ⁵Associated Press and ⁶Ny1.

Narratives

• Right narrative, as provided by Federalist. The Biden administration's open border policies have led to a disastrous increase in fentanyl use and distribution in America. Beijing's leveraging of Mexican cartels against the US is an attempt to undermine its international rival — Washington must increase sanctions and the threat of retaliation against both Mexico and China. It's time to send a strong message that the endorsement of a fentanyl epidemic at the detriment of American society will not be tolerated.
• Left narrative, as provided by West central tribune. While the American fentanyl problem desperately needs to be addressed, the solution isn't as simple as aggressive and military-focused policy moves against nations like Mexico and the PRC. Drug addiction is a significant issue in the US and Washington must invest in addiction treatment and overdose prevention programs to tackle it. Only when demand for drugs as dangerous as fentanyl is reduced will we see a decrease in its existence in American society.

Predictions