The Deadly Path of Fentanyl Precursors from China to the United States

Fentanyl, a potent synthetic opioid, has caused countless overdose deaths across the United States. Most illegally produced fentanyl is created using chemical precursors that originate overseas, particularly in China, where production and distribution are difficult to control. This handout explains the role of China in fentanyl precursor production and highlights findings from the recent China Select Committee hearing on fentanyl.

COMMENLY asked questions

What are fentanyl precursors?
Fentanyl precursors are the raw chemical ingredients used to produce fentanyl. While some fentanyl is made for legitimate medical purposes, illicitly manufactured fentanyl, often using unregulated precursors, is the primary driver of the current overdose crisis. These precursor chemicals are commonly shipped from China to Mexico, where cartels use them to produce fentanyl for illegal distribution in the U.S.
What is China's role in fentanyl precursor production?
China is home to thousands of chemical companies that produce and export synthetic compounds, including those used in fentanyl manufacturing. In the China Select Committee hearing on fentanyl, lawmakers and experts discussed how these companies operate with minimal oversight and, in many cases, directly contribute to the U.S. fentanyl crisis by selling these chemicals online or through gray-market channels.
What are China's incentives for chemical companies?
The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has been reported to incentivize chemical companies that produce and export fentanyl precursors in several ways:
1. Economic Support and Encouragement Many of China’s chemical companies receive government subsidies, making it financially viable to produce and export these chemicals. The lack of regulation allows these companies to profit without restriction, prioritizing economic gain over ethical considerations.
2. Weak Export Controls The CCP has not imposed stringent export controls on fentanyl precursors. This lack of enforcement enables these chemicals to flow freely from Chinese factories to global markets, especially to locations in Mexico where cartels use them to manufacture fentanyl for the United States.
3. Limited Cooperation with U.S. Authorities The hearing also highlighted that Chinese authorities have been reluctant to share intelligence or cooperate with U.S. law enforcement, complicating efforts to prevent these chemicals from entering illicit channels.
How do fentanyl precursors reach the United States?
After being exported from China, most fentanyl precursors are transported to Mexico. There, Mexican drug cartels convert these chemicals into fentanyl, pressing it into counterfeit pills or adding it to other illicit drugs before smuggling it into the U.S. This route circumvents many of the control points that exist within U.S. borders, making enforcement challenging and keeping the flow of illicit fentanyl steady.
What can be done?
Addressing the fentanyl crisis requires tackling the supply chain at its source. Here are a few measures discussed in the recent House Select Committee on the CCP hearing and supported by advocates:
Enhanced U.S.-China Cooperation Urging China to tighten export controls on fentanyl precursors and increase transparency with international law enforcement could be a critical step toward reducing the supply.
Stricter Import and Export Legislation Passing stricter laws to monitor and regulate chemical imports, along with increasing penalties for smuggling precursors, can help address this crisis.
Public Awareness and PreventionEducation on the dangers of fentanyl, counterfeit pills, and the impact of fentanyl poisoning is vital in reducing demand and ultimately, saving lives.
Conclusion
The flow of fentanyl precursors from China to the United States fuels a deadly epidemic. With proper legislation, international cooperation, and public education, we can work toward a future where fentanyl is no longer a widespread threat to public health and safety.

SELECT COMMITTEE UNVEILS FINDINGS INTO CCP'S ROLE IN AMERICAN FENTANYL EPIDEMIC

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Following a months-long investigation, Chairman Mike Gallagher (R-WI) and Ranking Member Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) of the House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party revealed their findings of the Chinese Communist Party’s role in the deadly fentanyl epidemic that has killed hundreds of thousands of Americans.
The fentanyl crisis is one of the most horrific disasters that America has ever faced. On average, fentanyl kills over 200 Americans daily, the equivalent of a packed Boeing 737 crashing every single day. Fentanyl is the leading cause of death for Americans aged 18-45 and a leading cause in the historic drop in American life expectancy. It has led to millions more suffering from addiction, and the destruction of countless families and communities. Beyond the United States, fentanyl and other mass-produced synthetic narcotics from the People’s Republic of China (PRC) are devastating nations around the world. It is truly a global crisis.
The PRC, under the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), is the ultimate geographic source of the fentanyl crisis. Companies in China produce nearly all of illicit fentanyl precursors, the key ingredients that drive the global illicit fentanyl trade. The House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party (Select Committee) launched an investigation to better understand the role of the CCP in the fentanyl crisis.
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HOUSE SELECT COMMITTEE ON THE CCP

On Tuesday, April 16th, 2024, Chairman Mike Gallagher (R-WI) and Ranking Member Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) convened a hearing that unveiled a new investigation into the Chinese Communist Party's role fueling the fentanyl crisis in the United States. The bipartisan findings revealed, for the first time, the depth of Chinese Communist Party complicity in the fentanyl epidemic and the motives behind it.
Watch full hearing
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