The United States Justice Department has filed criminal charges against four Chinese companies, accusing them of trafficking materials used in the manufacturing of the highly addictive painkiller fentanyl. In three indictments unsealed on Friday, the government initiated legal proceedings against companies and individuals based in China, targeting their involvement in the importation of fentanyl ingredients into the United States and Mexico.
Attorney General Merrick Garland stated that the justice department is committed to holding accountable those responsible for the fentanyl epidemic, and the charges demonstrate their dedication to pursuing not only the leaders of Mexican drug cartels but also their suppliers. Chinese chemical companies were identified as the suppliers, providing the necessary components for the production of deadly fentanyl by the cartels.
Apart from the four Chinese companies, eight employees and executives were also charged in the filings. This legal action comes amidst an ongoing opioid crisis in the US, with over 564,000 overdose deaths recorded between 1999 and 2020. Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid, has played a significant role in fueling the crisis in recent years.
While the crisis was previously fueled by aggressive promotion of highly addictive US-produced drugs, efforts to curb their availability led to the rise of illicit substances such as heroin and fentanyl. In 2021, the US witnessed a staggering 107,000 overdose deaths, with more than 70,000 attributed to fentanyl and other synthetic opiates, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The federal prosecutors alleged in the indictment that Chinese companies promoted fentanyl precursor chemicals on their websites and social media accounts, subsequently selling these materials to criminal groups like the Sinaloa drug cartel in Mexico. These criminal organizations have been smuggling fentanyl into the US for years.
While the causes of overdose crises are multifaceted, critics argue that the US government’s focus on enforcement actions against criminal groups in countries like Mexico oversimplifies the issue. The Chinese embassy condemned the charges, accusing the US of scapegoating China for its domestic drug crisis and engaging in “long-arm jurisdiction.”
The criminal charges against Chinese companies involved in fentanyl trafficking highlight the international dimensions of the opioid crisis and the US government’s determination to pursue all actors in the supply chain.
