China-based companies and employees are facing charges for their alleged involvement in supplying chemicals used to produce fentanyl, a key contributor to the overdose crisis plaguing the United States, Your Content has learned.
In a groundbreaking move, the Justice Department has taken action against these companies, accusing them of openly promoting the sale of these chemicals on social media platforms and clandestinely shipping them to buyers.
To further evade detection, the companies reportedly altered the molecular structure of the chemicals.
Attorney General Merrick Garland emphasized the comprehensive approach being taken by the authorities, stating, “We are targeting every step of the movement and manufacturing sale of fentanyl, from start to finish.”
As part of the investigation conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), two individuals have already been arrested.
The probe focused on four companies and resulted in the seizure of over 200 kilograms of precursor chemicals crucial for fentanyl production.
Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid with significantly higher addictive properties than heroin, has become the leading cause of death for individuals between the ages of 18 and 49 in the United States.
Shedding light on the extent of the operation, DEA administrator Anne Milgram revealed that the accused companies provided customers with instructions for producing fentanyl and targeted their advertising efforts towards Mexico, where the majority of fentanyl-producing cartels are based, according to U.S.News.