The Justice Department's intensified focus on Chinese companies supplying fentanyl precursors marks a significant shift in U.S. policy
In a major crackdown on the production and distribution of fentanyl as part of the fight against the opioid crisis, the U.S. Justice Department has turned its attention to China-based companies involved in shipping chemical ingredients used in the synthesis of this deadly synthetic opioid to Mexico and the United States. This initiative comes as fentanyl-related overdoses continue to claim lives, with more than 100,000 deaths recorded in the United States over a single year.
More about the developments in this news is below.
Breaking the supply chain
Attorney General Merrick B. Garland, alongside top law enforcement officials, announced the crackdown, emphasizing the global fentanyl supply chain's role in American deaths. Often, this chain begins with chemical companies in China. The U.S. government is now committed to dismantling every link in this chain, removing fentanyl from communities, and holding those responsible for its distribution accountable.
This shift in focus represents a significant change in U.S. policy. Previously, the emphasis was on the manufacturing of analog opioid drugs and fentanyl-related substances in China, which were then ordered online and shipped to the United States. While Beijing had cracked down on fentanyl manufacturers operating in the black market in response to U.S. pressure, they now face accusations of a lax approach to exporting chemical ingredients to Mexican drug cartels and United States traffickers.
Florida's battle against fentanyl
Homeland Security Investigations, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and other agencies have led the latest developments. These investigations have resulted in five in Central Florida and three indictments in South Florida. The drug remains a devastating problem in the state, responsible for the highest number of deaths due to drug overdose. Florida has seen an average of about 3,000 fatalities annually over the past two years, far surpassing other dangerous narcotics like heroin and cocaine.
Among those charged in South Florida are three Chinese companies and four individuals facing charges related to precursor chemical importation, synthetic opioid trafficking, defrauding the U.S. Postal Service, fentanyl trafficking, and counterfeiting postage.
As Florida continues to fight against the opioid crisis, Calle Ocho News will be at the forefront of providing the latest developments on this issue. Subscribe today to get all the updates in your inboxes.
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