U.S. Indicts China-Based Chemical Manufacturing Companies and Arrests Executives for Fentanyl Trafficking as U.S. Makes New Initiatives against Fentanyl Trafficking

On June 23, 2023, the United States Department of Justice announced the arrest of two individuals and the unsealing of three indictments in the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York, charging China-based companies and their employees with crimes related to fentanyl production, distribution, and sales arising from precursor chemicals.   The indictments are the first prosecutions to charge China-based companies and nationals of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) for trafficking fentanyl precursor chemicals into the U.S.  In particular, the indictments allege the defendants knowingly manufactured, marketed, sold, and furnished precursor chemicals for fentanyl production in the U.S. in violation of federal law.[1]  On June 22, 2023, Department of Homeland Security officials said they will widen a campaign targeting fentanyl by sending more teams of agents and investigators to interdict drug shipments and smuggling networks concerning fentanyl