this is "nightline." >> tonight, trafficked. following the flow of counterfeit fentanyl. fe fueling the fuel-blown opioid conflict in america. how the deadly drug is prepared and packaged, from underground labs in mexico, to this make or break moment at the u.s. border. elliot page, transgender and proud. >> i think i'm in love with you. >> the "juno" star's life-changing announcement. how he's using star power to push for greater visibility in a world so often invisible. the 19-year-old veteran changing lives this holiday season one check at a time. heav?

we get it. introducing febreze light. it eliminates odors... with no heavy perfumes... in light scents you'll love. new febreze light. let's be honest. quitting smoking is hard. like, quitting every monday hard. quitting feels so big. so try making it smaller, and you'll be surprised at how easily starting small can lead to something big. start stopping with nicorette. starting small can lead to something big. the team's been working around the clock.wire,

we've had to rethink our whole approach. we're going to give togetherness. logistically, it's been a nightmare. i'm not sure it's going to work. it'll work. i didn't know you were listening. ♪ thanks for joining us. tonight as the u.s. wages war against covid-19, there's 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. here's mariana van zeller. >> reporter: five years ago, almost no one had heard of it. today, it's a household name. fentanyl. >> reporter: in the u.s., fentanyl is helping drive overdose deaths to record highs. >> it's wiping out a generation. >> reporter: while in mexico, it's 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 mexico's cartel country to the border and into american communities, i'm going deep inside the fentanyl pipeline to see exactly how it's 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 mexico's cartels have stepped up to supply this demand. but it's a little-known secret that the cartels can't make the drug themselves. they first need to source these potent chemicals from somewhere or someone else. >> they're 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 there's 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 i've journeyed inland to witness how the cartels transform the precursor chemicals into street-ready drugs. it's happening tonight in an underground lab where we'll get a glimpse into the future of the mexican drug trade. >> reporter: unlike heroin, cocaine, or marijuana, fentanyl

doesn't need farmland or water or sunshine. it can all be made in an underworld lab like this, by a handful of cartel chemists. >> they're saying just did this little amount here, if you were to ingest this, this amount could kill you immediately, that's 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, they'll 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: i'm 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, i'm told it's okay to take off our masks. now that the chemical ingredients are properly balanced, it's time to craft the fake m-30 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. i'm 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 they'll make $2,000 for their work tonight. $400 per package. and just like everyone i've met on this journey, they do their job, then they pass the drugs on to the next link in the supply chain. the girl he's referring to is tonight's driver. in the trafficking world, she's called a drug mule. but i'll call her beatrice. >> reporter: beatrice tells me she's 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? she's packing five kilos of fentanyl. so it's a very strange feeling because on the one hand, we've met her, and don't want her to get caught, and i'm 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. it's complicated. i know beatrice has a growing family to provide for. but in all my years reporting on the opioid crisis, it's the parents who lost sons and daughters to overdoses that i remember the most. and i can't 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 tractor-trailers. and i'm here to witness it for myself. she's stopped, she's being checked right now. just put the cameras down. just when i'm certain she's busted -- they're letting her go. yeah, she's just going into her car and leaving. i can't believe it. they just let her go, i can't 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, it's 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 that's actually our woman. with the drugs inside her car. there's a guy in an orange jumpsuit with a mask. so looks like that's where they're doing the deal, right here, out in the open. >> reporter: the masked men tell me they're all native angelinos, american citizens who work directly for the seasinloa cart >> do you know what's in the

packages? >> i don't know. >> can you tell me more or less where they're 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 eight-part docuseries, airs wednesday evenings on national geographic. up next, elliot page's 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. when why are we alwaysiful hair, shown the same thing? where's my bounce? my glamour? my fire? all hair is beautiful. these dove shampoo and conditioners are custom formulated for different hair types. find the right dove care for your hair.

but some things are too serious to be ignored. if you still have symptoms of crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis even after trying other medications, it may be a sign of damaging inflammation, which left untreated, could get much worse. please make an appointment to see your gastroenterologist right away. or connect with them online. once you do, seeing the doctor is one less thing to worry about. need help finding a doctor? head to crohnsandcolitis.com nshall i put her in snow mode? nope! what about off-road mode? nah. sport mode it is. let's see what this baby can do. or... we could check out that farmers market? no! you know what? i'll be in chill mode... (button click) if anyone needs me. propilot assist with navi-link. available on the all-new nissan rogue.

♪ coming out as transgender is never easy. when you're an oscar-nominated movie star, it's 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 world's 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 wise-cracking teenager in the indie hit "journey," a role that earned them an oscar nod at the age of 20. >> i think i'm 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 page's announcement, i was elated. >> reporter: a writer, father, advocate, a proud member of the trans community. >> why elation? >> there's 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 there's also a lot of love. >> reporter: page's 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 "x-men," marrying professional dancer emma portner in 2018. portner supporting her spouse's 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. elliot's 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 didn't exist. body building was something that helped me make my body more masculine. >> the ideal man? >> for me it is. >> there's 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. it's the stepping stone to how we identify people. it's important to respect those things. >> reporter: websites scrubbing former pronouns and avoiding use of page's "dead" name, their name assigned at birth. for those in the trans community, page's 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 don't know how people are going to react to you in the streets. you don't necessarily know how people in your family are going to react.

there's 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 that's 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 once-monthly add-on 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. don't 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. roomba and the irobot home app. each febreze car vent clip gives you up to 30 days of fresh air. so, you can have open window freshness... even with all the windows up. enjoy fresh, any time, with febreze.

what?! ♪ whatever you have at home, knorr sides can turn nutritious veggies into mouthwatering meals. ♪ veggies taste amazing with knorr. tonight, try pure zzzs all night. veggies taste amazing unlike other sleep aids, our extended release melatonin helps you sleep longer. and longer. zzzquil pure zzzs all night. fall asleep. stay asleep.

we have the power to harness california's abundant solar and wind energy, but it's not available all day long. use less energy from 4 to 9 pm for a cleaner california.

♪ finally tonight, kindness is

as sweet as it is contagious. to spread some cheer this year, virgil sweet of largo, florida, helping a family in need. giving away his $1,200 government stimulus check. households impacted by the pandemic writing to the veteran about their stories. >> 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