China warns against selling chemicals used to make fentanyl
The US has long sought China’s co-operation to stop an illicit flow of precursor chemicals used to make fentanyl, which is up to 50 times stronger than heroin
17 November 2023 - 11:16
byAgency Staff
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Beijing — China’s narcotics control agency has warned against the manufacture and sale of substances that can be used to make illegal drugs, a day after President Xi Jinping said China would stem the export of items used to make the opioid fentanyl.
In a circular issued on Thursday, the office of the China National Narcotics Control Commission also cautioned against the risk of running into the “long-arm jurisdiction” of foreign law enforcement agencies.
The US has long sought China’s co-operation to stop an illicit flow of precursor chemicals used to make fentanyl, which is up to 50 times stronger than heroin and is increasingly mixed with other drugs, often with lethal results.
At their summit on Wednesday in San Francisco, Xi and US President Joe Biden agreed China would stem the export of items related to the production of fentanyl.
Under the agreement, China will go directly after specific chemical companies that make fentanyl precursors, a senior US official said.
In its circular, the narcotics agency warned that any person, or company, including postal and logistics firms, that is aware of the sale, transport or export of illegal drugs or precursor chemicals may face criminal charges or fines.
US officials say small chemical businesses in China make precursor chemicals that are shipped to Mexico to produce illicit fentanyl. China says addiction and demand for the drug are US domestic problems.
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
China warns against selling chemicals used to make fentanyl
The US has long sought China’s co-operation to stop an illicit flow of precursor chemicals used to make fentanyl, which is up to 50 times stronger than heroin
Beijing — China’s narcotics control agency has warned against the manufacture and sale of substances that can be used to make illegal drugs, a day after President Xi Jinping said China would stem the export of items used to make the opioid fentanyl.
In a circular issued on Thursday, the office of the China National Narcotics Control Commission also cautioned against the risk of running into the “long-arm jurisdiction” of foreign law enforcement agencies.
The US has long sought China’s co-operation to stop an illicit flow of precursor chemicals used to make fentanyl, which is up to 50 times stronger than heroin and is increasingly mixed with other drugs, often with lethal results.
At their summit on Wednesday in San Francisco, Xi and US President Joe Biden agreed China would stem the export of items related to the production of fentanyl.
Under the agreement, China will go directly after specific chemical companies that make fentanyl precursors, a senior US official said.
In its circular, the narcotics agency warned that any person, or company, including postal and logistics firms, that is aware of the sale, transport or export of illegal drugs or precursor chemicals may face criminal charges or fines.
US officials say small chemical businesses in China make precursor chemicals that are shipped to Mexico to produce illicit fentanyl. China says addiction and demand for the drug are US domestic problems.
Reuters
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