U.S. Announces Indictments and Actions Against Global Fentanyl Trafficking Networks

The U.S. Attorney General or a high-ranking official from the Department of Justice discussed actions taken against Chinese companies and individuals involved in trafficking chemicals used to make fentanyl and other drugs into the United States. The official highlights the seriousness of the fentanyl crisis and the government’s commitment to addressing it.

Key points from the statement include:

1. Indictments: The U.S. government has indicted eight Chinese companies and twelve Chinese nationals for attempting to ship chemicals used in the production of fentanyl, methamphetamine, and other drugs into the United States.
2. Fentanyl Trafficking: The statement emphasizes that fentanyl traffickers target all communities in the United States, using various tactics and techniques to gain access to the American market.
3. Trafficking Tactics: The defendants allegedly employed a range of tactics, including online advertising, encrypted messaging apps, fake shipping schemes, and bitcoin payments, to facilitate their drug trafficking operations.
4. Combating Drug Trafficking: The U.S. government is committed to using all available tools and partnerships to disrupt the global production and trafficking of fentanyl, combining traditional and innovative approaches.
5. Multi-Agency Effort: The success of these cases is attributed to the collaboration of multiple U.S. agencies, including the DEA, DHS, Postal Inspectors, FBI, IRS, and the Department of Justice, which worked together to bring charges against the defendants.
6. International Cooperation: The statement highlights the importance of international cooperation in combating fentanyl trafficking and acknowledges the efforts of Mexican prosecutors and officers who collaborated with U.S. partners to track precursor chemical shipments.
7. Private Sector Involvement: The private sector, including social media companies, marketplaces, common carriers, and freight forwarders, is called upon to contribute to efforts to prevent drug traffickers from using their services.
8. Pledge to Communities: The Department of Justice renews its commitment to fighting fentanyl, promising to use every tool of national power, collaborate with foreign governments, and continue efforts until communities are rid of this threat.

Overall, the statement underscores the government’s determination to combat the fentanyl crisis through a multi-pronged approach involving law enforcement, international collaboration, and private sector cooperation.