We get it. Introducing febreze light. It eliminates odors. With no heavy perfumes. In light scents youll love. New febreze light. Lets be honest. Quitting smoking is hard. Like, quitting every monday hard. Quitting feels so big. So try making it smaller, and youll be surprised at how easily starting small can lead to something big. Start stopping with nicorette. Starting small can lead to something big. The teams been working around the clock. Wire, weve had to rethink our whole approach. Were going to give togetherness. Logistically, its been a nightmare. Im not sure its going to work. Itll work. I didnt know you were listening. Thanks for joining us. Tonight as the u. S. Wages war against covid19, theres another crisis claiming american lives. Illicit fentanyl. In the last two decades, nearly 450,000 americans dying from opioid overdoses. A new National Geographic docuseries taking us deep into the world of black markets. Heres mariana van zeller. Reporter five years ago, almost no one had heard of it. Today, its a household name. Fentanyl. Reporter in the u. S. , fentanyl is helping drive Overdose Deaths to record highs. Its wiping out a generation. Reporter while in mexico, its disrupting the drug trade in ways not seen in generations. But few people understand how the cartels are getting their hands on the chemicals necessary to make fentanyl or what the fallout will be if they continue to churn these raw ingredients into deadly pills and powders. Reporter from mexicos Cartel Country to the border and into american communities, im going deep inside the fentanyl pipeline to see exactly how its fueling the most devastating drug epidemic in u. S. History. Reporter in just a few years, fentanyl has become the most popular synthetic opioid on the streets. And mexicos cartels have stepped up to supply this demand. But its a littleknown secret that the cartels cant make the drug themselves. They first need to source these potent chemicals from somewhere or someone else. Theyre saying it was one of these big cargo ships we around us that threw the barrels overseas, then the fishing boat over here got a gps location of where to pick them up, brings them out, then theres a Meeting Point where these guys pick it up and take it off to land. Reporter in 2015, fentanyl emerged on the black market in a big way. Potent, cheap, and readily available on the streets without a prescription. In the u. S. , overdose rates exploded to record highs. But here in mexico, fentanyl became a boon to the underworld economy. Which is why ive journeyed inland to witness how the cartels transform the precursor chemicals into streetready drugs. Its happening tonight in an underground lab where well get a glimpse into the future of the mexican drug trade. Reporter unlike heroin, cocaine, or marijuana, fentanyl doesnt need farmland or water or sunshine. It can all be made in an underworld lab like this, by a handful of cartel chemists. Theyre saying just did this little amount here, if you were to ingest this, this amount could kill you immediately, thats how powerful this stuff is. Everybody, we should put the masks on. This is where it starts getting dangerous here. Reporter if these chemists combine the Raw Materials just right, in a matter of hours, theyll have successfully completed the next step in the process, creating sellable black market fentanyl. This is the pure fentanyl. They mixed all the liquids that come from asia, a lot of times from china. They mix and it they make this. Reporter im starting to think my team and i should get the hell out of here. Outlaw narco chemists accidentally kill themselves all the time. Once the paste dries and the room clears of deadly fumes, im told its okay to take off our masks. Now that the chemical ingredients are properly balanced, its time to craft the fake m30 pills, each one designed to mimic the look of oxycontin, the most popular pain kilner america. The ugly truth is that fentanyl supports an incredibly lucrative underworld economy. That means jobs for cartel accountants, couriers, and chemists. And for those who undertake one of the most dangerous roles in the pipelines, prepping the drugs for the final crossing into the united states. Im watching a shadowy game of cat and mouse. In less than an hour, these drugs are headed to the most frequently crossed and one of the most heavily patrolled borders in the world. Last year, u. S. Customs and Border Protection seized more than a ton of fentanyl. And yet these packers plan on foiling thousands of highly trained agents and billions of dollars of Surveillance Technology with little more than homemade ingenuity. He has other products here. He has mustard. He has softener, laundry softener. All this is to avoid any sort of smell. Reporter the packers tell me theyll make 2,000 for their work tonight. 400 per package. And just like everyone ive met on this journey, they do their job, then they pass the drugs on to the next link in the supply chain. The girl hes referring to is tonights driver. In the trafficking world, shes called a drug mule. But ill call her beatrice. Reporter beatrice tells me shes been doing this for a year and makes 3,000 per crossing. Fentanyl trafficking convictions in the u. S. Have increased by nearly 5,000 over the past six years. And those who are caught are almost always sentenced to prison. She has to be super nervous, you know . Shes packing five kilos of fentanyl. So its a very strange feeling because on the one hand, weve met her, and dont want her to get caught, and im actually nervous for her. But on the other hand, she has a car packed with drugs that can kill a lot of people in the u. S. Its complicated. I know beatrice has a growing family to provide for. But in all my years reporting on the opioid crisis, its the parents who lost sons and daughters to overdoses that i remember the most. And i cant help but wonder what they might think as i watch beatrice attempt to carry a deadly shipment across the border. But this is how a majority of drugs are smuggled into the u. S. , according to the dea. Through legal ports of entry on the southwest border, stashed in Passenger Vehicles or tractortrailers. And im here to witness it for myself. Shes stopped, shes being checked right now. Just put the cameras down. Just when im certain shes busted theyre letting her go. Yeah, shes just going into her car and leaving. I cant believe it. They just let her go, i cant believe it. When we contacted cpv for comment they told us, u. S. Customs and Border Protection seized over 750,000 pounds of illegal narcotics in 2019. Our officers remain relentless and are always working to stay one step ahead of the cartels. But with so much demand for drugs, so much money to be made, its a difficult task. In recent years, there have been almost 200 drug Overdose Deaths in the u. S. Every single day. And fentanyl is the major reason. I think thats actually our woman. With the drugs inside her car. Theres a guy in an orange jumpsuit with a mask. So looks like thats where theyre doing the deal, right here, out in the open. Reporter the masked men tell me theyre all native angelinos, american citizens who work directly for the seasinloa cart do you know whats in the packages . I dont know. Can you tell me more or less where theyre heading . This is one of the main thoroughfares we have here. Like a hot potato where they want to get it out as soon as possible. Reporter never have so many people been addicted to such a deadly narcotic. Never has the need for solutions been more urgent. I worry that the fentanyl supply chain seems too big to fail. Too many people benefit. Americans will have to find a way to slow the demand. Because the suppliers will always find a faster and more profitable way to deliver the goods. New episodes of trafficked, an eightpart docuseries, airs wednesday evenings on National Geographic. Up next, elliot pages big announcement. How living his truth is boosting the visibility of the transgender community. Sofi made it so easy to pay off my student loan debt. chime they were able to give me a personal loan so i could pay off all of my credit cards. chime i got my mortgage through sofi and the whole process was so easy. Choosing sofi was literally one of the best decisions i could have ever made because it gave me peace of mind. An herbal stress reliever ashwagandha, i could have ever made that helps you turn the stressed life. Into your best life. Stress less and live more. With stressballs. 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Available on the allnew nissan rogue. Coming out as transgender is never easy. When youre an oscarnominated movie star, its perhaps even more complicated. Elliot page sharing news of his transition, using it as a way to bring attention to the dangers common in the trans community. A simple declaration from a major hollywood star. Capturing the worlds attention. Elliot page sharing deeply personal news very instagram writing, hi, friend, i want to share with you that i am trans. My pronouns are he they, and my name is elliot. Page rose to fame after starring as a pregnant wisecracking teenager in the indie hit journey, a role that earned them an oscar nod at the age of 20. I think im in love with you. You mean as friends . Oh. Reporter his groundbreaking news sparking joy among trans activists and allies with many sharing their support online. When i saw elliot pages announcement, i was elated. Reporter a writer, father, advocate, a proud member of the trans community. Why elation . Theres such bravery when it comes to being a trans person. Being that he is someone who has such a huge platform, for him to come out and tell millions of people that this is who he was, to be met with so much love, so many people have loved me and accepted me. There is a struggle when it comes to being trans but theres also a lot of love. Reporter pages journey began years ago as an outspoken lgbtq activist. In 2014, he came out as gay at a Human Rights Campaign conference in las vegas. And i am here today because i am gay. Reporter page starred alongside Leonardo Dicaprio in smash hits like inception and as a mutant in xmen, marrying professional dancer emma portner in 2018. Portner supporting her spouses transition in an Instagram Post saying in part, i am so proud of elliot page, trans, queer, and nonbinary people are a gift to this world. Elliots existence is a gift in and of itself. Shine on, sweet pea, love you so much. While shows like pose, euphoria, and orange is the new black shine a spotlight on trans female stories, trans male stories are often less visible. Earlier this year, trans body builder mason camanetti shared his experience with me of transitioning. How does society treat someone like you growing up . Almost like i didnt exist. Body building was something that helped me make my body more masculine. The ideal man . For me it is. Theres definitely invisibility when we talk about transpeople, trans men, particularly talking about representation in media. Reporter the battle for trans acceptance, often beginning with pronouns. Pronouns are important. Its the stepping stone to how we identify people. Its important to respect those things. Reporter websites scrubbing former pronouns and avoiding use of pages dead name, their name assigned at birth. For those in the trans community, pages post is seen as an act of bravery. Elliot embraced the joy, but also said that his truth is fragile, and that he admitted being scared. You dont know how people are going to react to you in the streets. You dont necessarily know how people in your family are going to react. Theres a risk that you take, that you may sacrifice people that you thought loved you. But that is the risk that we take to be who we are. Reporter highlighting the risk of violence so many trans people face, writing, in 2020 alone, it has been reported that at least 40 transgender people have been murdered. The majority of which were black and latinx trans women. We took a deep dive into this disturbing problem last year. Malaysia booker, say her name. Malaysia booker reporter reporting on trans women of color who have been targeted with violence and discrimination for trying to live their truth. What was your reaction to hear not one but two trans women of color gunned down in a matter of months on the same street . I was shocked. My reaction was, am i next . So much of the violence that is happening in trans communities is happening to trans women, particularly trans women of color. And this is because of not just trans phobia or misplaced homophobia, also because of sexism and misogyny and racism thats creating this powder keg for trans women. Reporter even for those who are famous, safety is no guarantee. Just this sunday, laverne cox, trans activist and star of orange is the new black do you have any idea how ignorant you sound . Reporter posted on instagram she and a friend were targeted while out on a walk in griffith park. All of a sudden the guy is attacking my friend. Laverne cox was a megastar, attacked. What that is saying about the girls in new york city . What is that saying about homeless lgbtq youth . We have a lot to do as a culture and as humanity. It says wealth, celebrity, and fame does not protect you. It does not insulate you from transphobia, racism, misogyny. It does not. Reporter yet elliot page is using their fame to fight against it. Up next, how this veteran is inspiring others to open their hearts and wallets this holiday season. Unorma fewer asthma attac. Less oral steroids. Taking my treatment at home. Nucala is a oncemonthly addon injection for severe eosinophilic asthma. Not for sudden breathing problems. Allergic reactions can occur. Get help right away for swelling of face, mouth, tongue, or trouble breathing. Infections that can cause shingles have occurred. Dont stop steroids unless told by your doctor. Tell your doctor if you have a parasitic infection. May cause headache, injection site reactions, back pain, and fatigue. Ask your doctor about nucala at home. Find your nunormal with nucala. Now roomba vacuums exactly where you need it. Hey google, tell roomba to vacuum the kitchen counter. And offers personalized cleaning suggestions for a clean unique to you and your home. Roomba and the irobot home app. Only from irobot. 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Forced to close because of the virus. Virgil also asking others to give away their checks. Together raising nearly 37,000 for more than 60 families. Such sweetness this holiday