U.S. Senators Tom Cotton, R-AR, Kelly Loeffler, R-GA, and Marsha Blackburn, R-TN introduced a joint bill Thursday to target fentanyl traffickers “who intentionally misrepresent the drug to unknowing customers” with harsh sentences, and, in some cases, with the death penalty, according to a Thursday press release.

“Drug dealers who peddle fentanyl know just how deadly it is, but the worst of them lace other drugs with it and then sell their poison to unknowing customers. By tricking their victims into buying much more potent drugs than expected, these dealers often kill their customers. We shouldn’t have any tolerance for such a fatal act of deception,” said Cotton in the news release.

Under the new bill, that deceptive action would land traffickers a sentence of 20 years if they sell the drug as “non-fentanyl.” Traffickers with previous felony convictions could face life sentences. If the traffickers intention is to kill a customer, that would make him or her eligible for the death penalty.

“What fentanyl has done to Tennesseans, families and communities is just devastating, and those criminals responsible for distributing these drugs must face serious penalties. Addressing the opioid crisis requires a multifaceted approach from officials at the local, state and national levels. I am pleased to partner with Senators Cotton and Loeffler to combat the tragic reality of opioid addiction and to hold drug traffickers accountable for their dangerous conduct,” said Blackburn.

The Drug Enforcement Administration temporarily scheduled fentanyl and its analogues as controlled substances. This bill would make that declaration permanent.

“One of the most lethal opioids is fentanyl, with thousands of overdose deaths being attributed to this highly-potent drug every year. Criminals who lace fentanyl with other drugs and traffic them into the United States must be held accountable for their deceptive, illegal and often deadly schemes. It’s time that our legal penalties properly reflect the seriousness and the fatal consequences of pushing these dangerous substances,” said Loeffler.

To learn more about how fentanyl is poisoning and killing Americans, click here to watch Sara A. Carter’s documentary Not in Vein.