US Brings Charges Over PRC Fentanyl Distribution

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Facts

• On Tuesday, the US Dept. of (DOJ) charged eight Chinese companies and 12 executives for their alleged role in the production and trafficking of fentanyl into the United States.¹
• As part of eight separate indictments, the DOJ alleges the accused of producing fentanyl and methamphetamine, supplying precursor chemicals, and distributing synthetic opioids. Speaking at a news conference, Attorney General Merrick Garland said the global fentanyl supply chain 'often' starts in China.²
• In 2022, fentanyl was linked to a record 109,680 deaths in the US. Garland further claimed the US knows 'who is responsible for poisoning the American people' and revealed the Chinese government didn't work with the US on these investigations.³
• These charges come at the same time the US Dept. of the Treasury has sanctioned 28 individuals and entities involved in the trafficking of illicit drugs, accusing the predominantly China-based network of synthesizing thousands of kilograms of fentanyl, methamphetamine, and MDMA [known commonly as 'ecstasy'] precursors.⁴
• Beijing's foreign ministry has responded by claiming China 'firmly oppos[ed]' the sanctions, which it described as a 'severe infringement' of the 'lawful rights and interests' of those targeted.⁵
• Meanwhile, Garland and Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas are scheduled to travel to Mexico for discussions about the fentanyl epidemic, with law enforcement having already seized 55M pills and 9K pounds of powder containing fentanyl this year.⁶

Sources: ¹Associated Press, ²Voa, ³BBC News, ⁴Reuters, ⁵Cna and ⁶CBS.

Narratives

• Anti-China narrative, as provided by National review. Because of China, opioids are making their way into the biggest cities and the smallest towns throughout the US and they’re costing innocent lives. Obviously, the US has to better secure its Southern border, but also Beijing must be prohibited from preventing such deadly chemicals from reaching North America.
• Pro-China narrative, as provided by Chinadaily.com.cn. Blaming China is the easy option, but the US should look within. While Washington is pointing fingers at Beijing, the US homemade fentanyl crisis is growing due to the influence of Big Pharma and other money-driven interests. The US should take care of its own business and leave the PRC out of this discussion.

Predictions