President Donald Trump on Monday designated illicit fentanyl as a "weapon of mass destruction" in an executive order. The order goes beyond calling it a lethal drug.

Label is the latest instance of Trump using militarised language to justify US operations against drug smuggling.

President Donald Trump on Monday designated illicit fentanyl as a "weapon of mass destruction" in an executive order. The order goes beyond calling it a lethal drug.

The president on Monday designated fentanyl and the precursor chemicals to produce the opioid as weapons of mass destruction.