The Biden Administration Targets Fentanyl Trafficking Threat, Announces Indictments and Sanctions Against Chinese Companies
The Biden administration is taking decisive action against the fentanyl trafficking threat by announcing a series of indictments and sanctions targeting Chinese companies and executives responsible for importing chemicals used in the production of this deadly drug. This latest effort is aimed at combating the deadliest overdose crisis in U.S. history.
Officials are charging eight Chinese companies with advertising, manufacturing, and distributing precursor chemicals for synthetic opioids like fentanyl. Additionally, 12 executives have been indicted for their alleged involvement in drug trafficking. In a coordinated effort, the Treasury Department has imposed sanctions on 28 individuals and companies, primarily in China but also in Canada, cutting off their access to the U.S. financial system and prohibiting any business transactions with them.
The attorney general, Merrick Garland, emphasized the extensive network involved in fentanyl trafficking, which includes cartel leaders, drug traffickers, money launderers, lab operators, security forces, weapons suppliers, and chemical suppliers. Garland noted that the supply chain for global fentanyl often begins with chemical companies in China.
The primary sources of fentanyl and fentanyl-related substances trafficked into the U.S. are Mexico and China, according to the Drug Enforcement Administration. China is responsible for supplying nearly all the precursor chemicals required for fentanyl production. In order to evade law enforcement, these chemical companies frequently use fake return addresses and mislabel their products.
As an example, the Justice Department highlighted the case of a Chinese pharmaceutical technology company that advertised xylazine, a horse tranquilizer often mixed with fentanyl to enhance its potency. This company shipped the chemicals to the U.S. and Mexico, with one of the buyers in Mexico connected to the Sinaloa Cartel.
While these actions are part of the Biden administration’s ongoing efforts to combat the fentanyl crisis, Republicans have criticized the administration for not doing enough to stop the flow of fentanyl. The issue is expected to be a prominent topic in next year’s presidential campaign.
Fentanyl is currently the deadliest drug in the U.S., with drug overdose deaths increasing significantly in recent years. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that drug overdose deaths have risen more than sevenfold from 2015 to 2021, with fentanyl-related deaths accounting for about two-thirds of the total. State lawmakers are responding to this crisis by pushing for harsher penalties for fentanyl possession.
The Biden administration has imposed over 200 sanctions related to the illegal drug trade and is taking multiple actions to stem the tide of fentanyl entering the country. The Justice Department is allocating federal funding of $345 million to support various initiatives, including mentoring for at-risk youth and increasing access to the overdose-reversal drug naloxone.
Legislation has been introduced in Congress to declare fentanyl trafficking a national emergency and empower Treasury to use sanctions against traffickers. The proposed legislation also includes reporting requirements and the ability for the president to confiscate sanctioned property to support law enforcement efforts.
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