The US Justice Department on Friday issued criminal charges against Chinese chemical manufacturing companies and individuals over allegations of illegally trafficking the chemicals used to make fentanyl — a highly addictive painkiller responsible for the opioid crisis in the US.
The indictments, which include four companies and eight individuals, mark the first time the US has sought to prosecute any Chinese entities responsible for manufacturing chemical ingredients used to make various painkillers.
Chinese Response
A spokesperson of the Chinese Foreign Ministry said on Saturday that the charges were “typical arbitrary detention and unilateral sanction, which is completely illegal.”
#ThisWeekatJustice Justice Department Announced Charges Against China-Based Chemical Manufacturing Companies and Arrests of Executives in Fentanyl Manufacturing; ATF Hosted the Second Annual Chiefs of Police Executive Forum on Crime Guns; and more pic.twitter.com/9UClt3OT80
— Justice Department (@TheJusticeDept) June 23, 2023
The spokesperson argued that China has “scheduled fentanyl-related substance as a class — the first country to do so in the world” and has played “an important role in preventing the illicit manufacturing, trafficking and abuse of fentanyl.”
The Ministry further criticised the move by adding that “instead of giving China the credit for its contribution, the US imposed illegal sanctions on Chinese counter-narcotics institutions, and then openly slandered China’s counter-narcotics efforts and illegally sanctioned Chinese companies.”
“It seriously harms the basic human rights of the Chinese nationals and the interests of the Chinese companies concerned,” the statement said, further noting that Beijing “strongly condemns” the move and “has lodged serious démarches and strong protest” to Washington.
Unlike China, the US so far has not scheduled the whole class of fentanyl-related substances. Does the US really think it can solve domestic problems by blaming China? Is discrediting China's efforts helpful to the US getting its own house in order?
— Hua Chunying 华春莹 (@SpokespersonCHN) June 25, 2023
Additionally, the spokesperson urged the US to “stop shifting the blame, stop smearing and attacking China, immediately lift all sanctions on Chinese counter-narcotics law enforcement institutions [...] and immediately release the Chinese nationals under illegal arrest.”
Chinese Trafficking
In a report released in January 2020, the Justice Department recognised that while China and Mexico are the “primary source countries for fentanyl and fentanyl-related substances trafficked directly” into the US, India is an emerging source for finished fentanyl powder and fentanyl precursor chemicals.
“Seizures of fentanyl sourced from China average less than one kilogram in weight, and often test above 90 percent concentration of pure fentanyl,” the report noted.