In a significant move to curb the opioid crisis in the United States, the Biden administration has announced sanctions against 25 China-based firms and individuals. These entities are allegedly involved in the production of chemicals used to manufacture fentanyl, a potent opioid that has been at the center of the ongoing drug epidemic in the US.
Fentanyl, primarily used as a painkiller or sedative, has been linked to a record 109,680 deaths in 2022 alone. The drug can be legally prescribed by medical professionals, but the surge in opioid addiction in the US over the past few decades has led to an increase in its illegal production and associated overdoses.
US Attorney General Merrick Garland emphasized the drug's supply chain, stating it "often starts with chemical companies in China." He further added, "We know who is responsible for poisoning the American people with fentanyl. This network includes the cartels' leaders, their drug traffickers, their money launderers, their clandestine lab operators, their security forces, their weapons suppliers, and their chemical suppliers."
The US Treasury Department's sanctions target a "China-based network responsible for the manufacturing and distribution" of fentanyl precursors and several other illegal drugs. Officials have pointed out that companies within the fentanyl supply chain frequently employ tactics such as using false addresses and mislabeling to evade detection by law enforcement agencies.
The sanctions will have a direct impact on the targeted entities by freezing their US assets and prohibiting Americans from engaging in transactions with them. The list of those sanctioned encompasses 12 entities and 13 individuals based in China, along with two entities and one individual located in Canada.
In addition to the sanctions, the Justice Department has unveiled indictments against eight Chinese companies and 12 of their employees. These charges relate to crimes associated with fentanyl and methamphetamine production, the distribution of opioids, and sales resulting from precursor chemicals. Despite these indictments, no arrests have been made, and the Chinese government did not collaborate with US authorities during the investigations.
Garland is set to visit Mexico, accompanied by other top officials, to discuss strategies to combat the supply of illegal narcotics. He expressed his concerns, stating, "We know that this global fentanyl supply chain, which ends with the deaths of Americans, often starts with chemical companies in China."
While the US has been vocal about its concerns, China's embassy in Washington has yet to comment on the matter. However, in a statement from April, a spokesperson for the Chinese foreign ministry denied any illegal trafficking of fentanyl between China and Mexico. The US, on the other hand, holds Mexican drug cartels responsible for distributing fentanyl across its territories.
