BEIJING: In a strong rebuke against the United States, China condemned Washington’s decision to impose sanctions on a China-based drug network allegedly involved in the production of chemicals linked to the fentanyl crisis. The move, announced by the Biden administration, targeted 25 individuals and entities in China and three in Canada, along with indictments against Chinese chemical manufacturing firms.
Attorney General Merrick Garland asserted that the global supply chain of fentanyl is often initiated in China. In response, Beijing’s foreign ministry criticized the US sanctions, contending that the Chinese government had been at the forefront of regulating substances like fentanyl. “We strongly oppose the US sanction and prosecution against Chinese companies and individuals, and the severe infringement of the interests and lawful rights of the relevant enterprises and persons,” the ministry stated, adding that the fentanyl crisis in the United States was rooted within the country itself.
“The Chinese government has been taking strict against drug crimes and deploying the harshest control on precursor chemicals,” the statement continued. “Imposing pressure and sanctions cannot solve the United States’ own problems. It will only create obstacles in the China-US cooperation on drug control.”
China-based Network Allegedly Responsible for Fentanyl Crisis
The US sanctions targeted a China-based network allegedly responsible for manufacturing and distributing significant quantities of fentanyl, methamphetamine, and MDMA precursors. This network allegedly served as a vital supplier for many US-based narcotics traffickers, dark web vendors, virtual currency money launderers, and criminal organizations in Mexico. The sanctioned parties were also allegedly involved in trafficking xylazine, a veterinary sedative, and nitazenes, which are often mixed with fentanyl or other drugs, increasing the risk of fatal overdoses.
Among the individuals designated in the sanctions were Wang Shucheng and Du Changgen, members of a Chinese “syndicate.” Wang was accused of directing others to establish companies used as cover to move pharmaceutical goods globally. Du Changgen, identified as the figure with the most influence within the organization, was allegedly responsible for approximately 900 kilograms of seized fentanyl and methamphetamine precursors shipped to the United States and Mexico.
