U.S. indicts China-based chemical company, arrests executives in drug case
TORONTO (AA) – The U.S. has charged four China-based chemical companies and eight individuals with manufacturing and distributing precursor chemicals.
The chemicals are used to manufacture the opioid drug fentanyl.
According to a Treasury Department statement, the investigation conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) led to the seizure of more than 200 kilograms of fentanyl precursor chemicals.
“These indictments represent the first prosecutions to charge China-based chemical manufacturing companies and nationals of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) for trafficking fentanyl precursor chemicals into the United States,” said the statement.
This amount of chemical could be used to produce a lethal dose that could kill 25 million Americans.
The companies involved are accused of using deceptive practices to avoid detection. They were caught mislabeling packages and falsifying customs forms.
Fentanyl is a highly potent synthetic opioid that is much stronger than heroin and morphine. It is one of the main contributors to the overdose epidemic in the United States.
Prosecuting China-based chemical companies and individuals involved in the fentanyl supply chain is seen as a critical step in addressing the crisis.
The investigations conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) resulted in the seizure of more than 200 kilograms (400 pounds) of fentanyl-related precursor chemicals. The number of chemicals could potentially produce enough deadly doses to kill 25 million Americans, said the statement.
The defendants are accused of knowingly manufacturing, marketing, selling and supplying precursor chemicals used for fentanyl production in violation of federal law.
Those charged include executives and employees of the China-based chemical companies Hubei Amarvel Biotech Co. Ltd., Anhui Rencheng Technology Co. Ltd., Anhui Moker New Material Technology Co., Shutong Wang, Shifang Ruan, Xinyu Zhao, Yue Gao and Ruiqing Li.
“The chemicals provided by the defendant companies have enabled such cartels and other drug trafficking organizations to produce fentanyl in clandestine laboratories in Mexico on a massive scale,” said the statement.
The companies involved are accused of employing deceptive practices to evade detection and interception of their chemical shipments, such as mislabeling packages and falsifying customs forms.
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