CHINESE “SYNDICATE”
Biden’s administration has made the fight against fentanyl a priority, with the synthetic opioid blamed for tens of thousands of deaths in recent years.
Tuesday’s actions are aimed at exposing and disrupting a network “responsible for manufacturing and distributing illicit drugs”, according to Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo.
The China-based network is “responsible for the manufacturing and distribution of ton quantities of fentanyl, methamphetamine, and MDMA precursors”, said Treasury.
It is the “source of supply” for many US-based narcotics traffickers, dark web vendors, virtual currency money launderers and Mexico-based criminal organisations, it added.
The parties designated are also allegedly involved in trafficking xylazine – a veterinary sedative known as “tranq” – and nitazenes, which are often mixed with fentanyl or other drugs and pose a higher risk of fatal overdoses.
Among the individuals designated on Tuesday by the Treasury are Wang Shucheng and Du Changgen – members of a Chinese “syndicate” – as well as their affiliates.
Wang was said to have directed others to establish companies used as cover to move pharmaceutical goods globally, while Du maintains the most influence over the organisation.
“Du Changgen and persons operating under him have been responsible for approximately 900kg of seized fentanyl and methamphetamine precursors shipped to the United States and Mexico,” the department said.
Source: CNA
