ADDS DETAILS
By Yasin Gungor
ISTANBUL (AA) - The US sanctioned Chinese chemical company Guangzhou Tengyue Chemical Co., Ltd. and two company representatives Wednesday for "manufacturing and coordinating shipments of illicit opioids and chemical agents" to America.
The Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned Huang Xiaojun and Huang Zhanpeng, representatives who "directly" coordinated shipments of synthetic opioids and dangerous cutting agents to the US.
"Illicit opioids coming from China are destroying American lives, families, and communities," said Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence John Hurley.
The State Department noted that overdoses from synthetic opioids like fentanyl represent the leading cause of death for Americans aged 18-45.
It accused China of playing a central role in the crisis by failing to stop drug distribution and "actively sustaining and expanding the business of poisoning our citizens."
All property and interests of sanctioned individuals in the US or controlled by US persons are now blocked. Entities owned 50% or more by blocked persons are also sanctioned.
The FBI, meanwhile, announced federal criminal indictments against Guangzhou Tengyue and the two representatives, along with three individuals in the US and 22 other individuals and four businesses based in China. The charges include conspiracy to commit drug trafficking under Title 21 of the US Code.
“Protecting Americans from fentanyl is one of this Department’s most important missions and it starts with dismantling the international pipelines that bring deadly drugs and precursor to our shores,” said US Attorney General Pamela Bondi.
All US national defendants face conspiracy charges for distributing more than 400 grams of fentanyl and international money laundering, according to a Justice Department statement.
Eric Michael Payne, 39, believed to be the main supplier of illegal cutting agents to fentanyl traffickers operating in southern Ohio, faces additional charges of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and obstruction of justice.
Auriyon Tresan Rayford, 24, who is accused of helping Payne transfer cryptocurrency to Chinese citizens, is charged with "maintaining a drug-involved premises.”
In March, the US imposed a 20% tariff on Chinese goods targeting products linked to fentanyl precursor chemicals and supply chains used by drug cartels to produce synthetic opioids.