The US imposed sanctions against dozens of Chinese firms fighting the production of fentanyl

Merrick Garland, the US attorney general, said that «the global fentanyl supply chain often begins with chemical companies in China.» Photo: Manuel Balche Seneta/AP

The United States announced sanctions Tuesday against dozens of Chinese companies and citizens as President Joe Biden's administration cracks down on trafficking in the deadly drug fentanyl.

“We are here today to convey a message on behalf of the United States government. We know who is responsible for poisoning the American people with fentanyl,” said U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland.

“We know that this global fentanyl supply chain, which ends in American deaths, often begins with chemical companies in China.”

The U.S. Treasury Department said it has imposed sanctions on 28 individuals and organizations involved in the international distribution of illicit drugs, including a large Chinese network.

The Justice Department also unsealed eight indictments charging eight individuals based in China. companies and 12 of their employees for crimes related to the production of fentanyl and methamphetamine, the distribution of synthetic opioids and the sale of precursor chemicals.

None of the defendants has yet been arrested, and the Chinese government has not cooperated with them. US authorities about the investigation, Mr. Garland said.

“Cooperation in the fight against drugs has been seriously undermined.”

Liu Pengyu, a spokesman for the Chinese Embassy in Washington, said China strongly condemned Tuesday's move, adding that the Chinese government takes a firm stance in the fight against drugs.

«However, the US, by ignoring China's goodwill, is making China the goat absolution through the tactics of sanctions, slander and slander. This has seriously undermined the basis of Sino-US anti-drug cooperation,” Mr. Liu said.

Antony Blinken, the US secretary of state, said during his visit to China in June that he had made it clear that Washington needed much closer cooperation from China in stemming the flow of fentanyl, and that the two sides had agreed to explore the possibility of setting up a working group on the issue. that question.

Tuesday's announcement came a day before Mr. Garland was due to travel to Mexico along with other senior U.S. officials. Trafficking in fentanyl is expected to be a major topic of discussion.

U.S. prosecutors have accused some chemical manufacturing companies of bringing chemicals used to make fentanyl into the United States using false shipping labels and other mechanisms to evade detection. Other shipments were headed to Mexico's powerful Sinaloa drug cartel, prosecutors said.

The Treasury has accused the Chinese network of producing and distributing fentanyl, methamphetamine and MDMA precursors.

It says the network is capable of synthesizing thousands of kilograms fentanyl, methamphetamine, MDMA precursors and other illegal chemicals.