The United States government has placed sanctions on 25 Chinese-based companies and individuals said to be involved in the production of fentanyl, the Treasury Department announced Tuesday.
The sanctions will prevent 25 Chinese-based companies and persons as well as two companies and one individual in Canada from accessing the U.S. financial system and doing business with American citizens. The sanctions aimed to hit firms at the source of the supply chain, starting with chemical production.
Furthermore, Attorney General Merrick Garland announced the Department of Justice is indicting eight Chinese companies and 12 of their executives. Fentanyl’s supply chain “often starts with chemical companies in China,” Garland said.
“The Justice Department charged eight companies based in China and twelve of their executives for crimes related to the production, distribution, and importation of fentanyl…” – @TheJusticeDept AG Merrick Garland pic.twitter.com/jU2qsjR9fr
— The Select Committee on the CCP (@committeeonccp) October 4, 2023
In response, the Chinese government rebuked the sanctions and said Americans should blame themselves for the crisis.
“We firmly oppose the United States’ sanction and prosecution against Chinese entities and individuals, and the severe infringement of the lawful rights and interests of the relevant enterprises and persons,” the Chinese foreign ministry told AFP news agency.
It continued: “The Chinese government has been strictly cracking down on drug crimes […] and we deploy the harshest control on precursor chemicals. Imposing pressure and sanctions cannot solve the United States’ own problems. It will only create obstacles in the China-US co-operation on drug control.”
Learn the benefits of becoming a Valuetainment Member and subscribe today!
Last week, Secretary of State Anthony Blinken announced the government was issuing sanctions against ten individuals involved with Cartel fentanyl trafficking. These included nine members of the Sinaloa Cartel in Mexico as well as the leader of the Clan del Golfo Colombian crime enterprise. The latter is behind the majority of cocaine production and trafficking in Colombia, Blinken explained.
“Today’s actions reinforce the Untied States’ whole of government approach to saving lives by disrupting illicit drug supply chains. These designations follow the Department of State’s announcement of rewards under the Narcotic Rewards Program for information leading to the arrest or conviction of seven of the ten individuals designated today,” Blinken said.
Add comment