Overview

• The US government has indicted Chinese companies and executives for manufacturing and distributing fentanyl and its precursor chemicals.
• The Treasury Department imposed sanctions on over 25 individuals and entities in China, Canada, and the US involved in the fentanyl supply chain.
• Law enforcement agencies conducted undercover operations, traced cryptocurrency payments, and collaborated with Mexican prosecutors.
• China condemned the US actions, while the US has urged greater cooperation from China in stemming fentanyl flows.
• Fentanyl trafficking and use has been linked to rising overdose deaths, especially among young Americans, prompting a targeted US crackdown.