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As Washington steps up its fight against the spread of fentanyl, the U.S. Treasury Department has imposed sanctions on 25 Chinese individuals and entities suspected of being involved in drug manufacturing and smuggling.
The U.S. Treasury Department said it is disrupting a China-based network responsible for manufacturing and distributing fentanyl, methamphetamine and ecstasy raw materials. It also imposed sanctions on one person and two groups in Canada suspected of importing drug-making chemicals from China.
“Treasury is taking comprehensive action with our law enforcement colleagues to uncover and disrupt networks responsible for the manufacture and distribution of illicit drugs, including fentanyl and and other substances that claim the lives of thousands of Americans each year.” a statement.
Adeyemo said the sanctions reflected how the Biden administration would “quickly use all our tools to address the global threat posed by the illicit drug trade.”
In addition to the sanctions, the U.S. Department of Justice has filed eight indictments against Chinese companies and employees involved in the production and distribution of fentanyl and methamphetamine.
“The global fentanyl supply chain ends with the deaths of Americans and too often begins with chemical companies in China,” said U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland. “The U.S. government is committed to breaking every link in the chain, Get fentanyl out of our communities and bring those who put it to justice.”
The action comes at a time when U.S.-China relations are at their worst in decades. The two sides have been negotiating to try to find ways to reduce the amount of fentanyl precursors being shipped from China to the United States, but have been unable to reach any agreement.
The Treasury Department said the targets were also involved in the global trafficking of “highly potent” xylazine and nitrate chemicals mixed with illicit fentanyl, a synthetic opioid linked to tens of thousands of Americans. It has been linked to death and is 50 times more potent than heroin.
One of the targets was Du Changgen, a Chinese citizen who the Treasury Department said maintained the greatest influence over an illegal drug syndicate in China. The network was said to be capable of synthesizing thousands of kilograms of drugs and was responsible for transporting 900 kilograms of seized precursor drugs to the United States and Mexico. The Treasury Department said Du and his team provided the chemicals to groups including Mexico’s Sinaloa Cartel.
Four months ago, U.S. federal prosecutors first charged Chinese citizens and groups with manufacturing and supplying precursor drugs used to make fentanyl.
Beijing has previously cracked down on Chinese companies supplying fentanyl. More recently, Chinese entities have turned to supplying precursor drugs to Mexican cartels, which then manufacture fentanyl and other illicit drugs.
The Chinese Embassy in the United States said the sanctions would only “add more obstacles” to Sino-US anti-drug cooperation. Embassy spokesman Liu Pengyu said that such actions hurt other countries and the United States itself.
The Chinese Embassy in the United States said the sanctions would only “add more obstacles” to U.S.-China anti-drug cooperation. “Such actions hurt other countries and the United States itself,” said embassy spokesman Liu Pengyu.
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