Reuters won the Pulitzer Prize in investigative reporting on Monday for a groundbreaking series that delved into the international trade of chemicals used to produce fentanyl, the synthetic opioid at the center of a crisis that has claimed the lives of around 450,000 Americans.
The seven-part series, “Fentanyl Express,” saw Reuters reporters purchase the necessary ingredients to make fentanyl, uncovering how Chinese chemicals fueling America’s opioid crisis are alarmingly inexpensive and easily accessible—and why U.S. authorities have been unable to halt the deadly trade.
For just $3,600, the team acquired enough precursor chemicals and equipment to manufacture at least $3 million worth of fentanyl. However, the Reuters reporters did not intend to make the drug, and they arranged for the safe destruction of all materials they purchased.
The series provided a unique look into the chemical supply chain, exposing the difficulties faced by U.S. authorities in curbing the flow of these chemicals despite significant diplomatic and law enforcement efforts by both the Biden and Trump administrations.
The investigation was led by Maurice Tamman, Laura Gottesdiener, Stephen Eisenhammer, Drazen Jorgic, Daisy Chung, Kristina Cooke, Michael Martina, Antoni Slodkowski, and Shannon Stapleton.
Working across the U.S., Mexico, China, and other regions, the team revealed how Chinese suppliers exploited the “de minimis” rule in U.S. trade regulations to smuggle cheap chemicals past customs inspectors. This loophole allowed tariff-free shipments of parcels valued under $800, resulting in a surge of imports, primarily from China. The Trump administration recently ended this exemption for shipments from Chinese and Hong Kong sellers.
Other stories in the series highlighted how Mexican brokers facilitate the trade for powerful drug cartels, China’s resistance to U.S. efforts to curb the chemical trade, and how naloxone, a fentanyl-overdose antidote, is saving thousands of American lives—but is not resolving the nation’s addiction crisis.
“The ‘Fentanyl Express’ series is a testament to the power of investigative journalism to drive change and hold those in power accountable,” said Alessandra Galloni, Reuters’ editor-in-chief. “I’m incredibly proud of the team for their dedication to telling this important story in unique, rich, and personal detail.”
This marks the sixth Pulitzer Prize won by Reuters for reporting, all since 2014, along with seven for photography since 2008. The Pulitzer Prizes were established by newspaper publisher Joseph Pulitzer in 1917.
