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The United States on Wednesday sanctioned a Chinese chemical company that it alleges is manufacturing and coordinating shipments of illicit opioids, such as fentanyl, and chemical agents into the country. The move comes amid recent stepped-up moves in Washington to target China on the fentanyl issue despite stabilising bilateral ties.
A Treasury Department statement said sanctions have been placed on Guangzhou Tengyue Chemical, based in China’s southern Guangdong province, and two of the company’s representatives.
“China-based chemical manufacturing companies remain the primary source of fentanyl precursor chemicals and other illicit opioids entering the United States,” the statement said, adding that Guangzhou Tengyue “pushes poison for profit”.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation also announced on Wednesday a federal criminal indictment against individuals and businesses in the US and China for conspiracy to commit drug trafficking and facilitating the flow of illicit drugs and cutting agents into the US.
A separate statement from the State Department also accused China of playing a central role in America’s fentanyl crisis “not merely by failing to stem the ultimate source of many illicit drugs distributed in the United States, but by actively sustaining and expanding the business of poisoning our citizens”.
Overdoses from synthetic opioids like fentanyl are the leading cause of death among young Americans aged 18 to 45, it added.
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Unravelling China’s role in the US fentanyl crisis
Unravelling China’s role in the US fentanyl crisis
