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 The report by the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review
Commission, due to be published on Tuesday, said U.S. authorities
have found that cooperation with Chinese counterparts "remains
limited on the ground."
An explosion in the use of fentanyl, a synthetic opioid 50 times
more potent than heroin, and its analogues has driven the most
devastating chapter of America's long-running opioid and drug abuse
crises.
Combating fentanyl smuggling has become a key priority for U.S.
agencies as overdose deaths spiked to more than 93,000 in 2020,
mostly linked to fentanyl, according to provisional data by the
National Center for Health Statistics.
Deaths surged by more than 21,000 to eclipse a record set a year
earlier.
Despite China banning fentanyl and similar variants in 2019, the
Asian nation remains the primary source of illicit fentanyl and
fentanyl-related substances trafficked into the United States, the
report said.
There have been some improvements in collaboration as U.S. officials
have established working groups, conducted high-level meetings and
shared information with Chinese partners that led to arrests.
However, the advisory body warned there "remain significant gaps in
U.S.-China antidrug cooperation".
Chinese regulatory authorities delay requests for access to inspect
and investigate potential sites where companies illegally
manufacture precursor chemicals that Mexican and other foreign drug
cartels use to produce fentanyl, it said.
"Requests are often delayed for days, allowing any illegal operation
to vacate or clean up the premises," the report said.
Chinese cooperation also "lags in money laundering investigations,
criminal prosecution, and legal assistance in ongoing cases", the
advisory body added.
The Chinese foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a
request for comment.
Beijing has in the past pointed to its regulatory moves as proof of
its commitment to stem the flow of synthetic drugs towards the
United States and elsewhere.
[to top of second column] |
 FENTANYL SHIPMENTS FALL
The amount of finished fentanyl shipped from
China to the United States has declined since
2019 when Beijing banned the synthetic drug. Yet
illicit fentanyl from China remains widely
available in the United States, the report said.
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)
believes Chinese traffickers have shifted from
mainly manufacturing finished fentanyl to mostly
exporting precursors to Mexican cartels, who
manufacture illicit fentanyl and deliver the
final product.
 The authors of
the congressional report, titled "Illicit Fentanyl from China: An
Evolving Global Operation", warned that the sophistication of
traffickers was growing and both Chinese and U.S. authorities were
struggling to adapt.
On top of relocating some manufacturing to India, Chinese
traffickers were re-routing shipments via third countries and using
new marketing methods to circumvent local regulations drafted by
Beijing.
"China's weak supervision and regulation of its chemical and
pharmaceutical industry also enable evasion and circumvention," the
report said.
Chinese traffickers are increasing their cooperation with Mexican
cartels, and especially the two biggest crime syndicates, the
Sinaloa cartel and Jalisco New Generation Cartel.
Both groups operate "pill mills" in Mexican cities, where they
manufacture illegal fentanyl to ship to the United States, a growing
trend in recent years.
"The growing involvement of Mexican cartels and advanced money
laundering schemes have exacerbated the problem," the report said.
Chinese criminals are increasingly using the Chinese banking system
to launder Mexican drug money, the report said, citing an
investigation by Reuters into how Chinese brokers were muscling out
Colombian and Mexican money launderers.
 These Chinese brokers use financial technology, mobile banking apps,
and social media to evade authorities, the report said.
(Writing by Drazen Jorgic; Editing by Daniel Flynn and Richard
Pullin)
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