China is fuelling the fentanyl crisis in the US by directly subsidising the manufacturing of materials that are used by traffickers to make the drug outside the country, according to a report released Tuesday by a special House committee focused on countering the Chinese government.

Committee investigators said they accessed a government website that revealed tax rebates for the production of specific fentanyl precursors as well as other synthetic drugs as long as those companies sell them outside of China.

Through its actions, as our report has revealed, the Chinese Communist Party is telling us that it wants more fentanyl entering our country, said Rep Mike Gallagher, the Republican chairman of the special House committee. It wants the chaos and devastation that has resulted from the epidemic.

In November, President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping announced a resumption of bilateral cooperation on counternarcotics with a focus on reducing the flow of precursor chemicals and synthetic drug trafficking. But the congressional report raises questions about whether China is following through.

The report’s findings were released Tuesday as part of a hearing examining China’s role in the fentanyl epidemic in the US. Most overdose deaths in the US continue to be linked to fentanyl and other synthetic opioids. Inexpensive fentanyl is increasingly cut into other drugs, often without the buyers’ knowledge.

The Chinese government not only subsidises the manufacturing of precursor chemicals, but the report says it has also thwarted investigations into illicit manufacturers by warning the targets of an investigation when US law enforcement has sent a formal request for assistance. Investigators said multiple current and former federal agents have described the notification of targets, leading those targets to revamp operations and make it harder to detect their activities.

Former US Attorney General William Barr told lawmakers in Tuesday’s hearing that it’s hard to believe that a country with the most pervasive surveillance system in the world is not fully aware of the massive drug trafficking taking place. He said the committee’s report uncovered persuasive evidence that China’s government is not just a bystander, but is knee deep in sponsoring and facilitating the export of fentanyl precursors.

Barr recommended the US use its trade and economic power to seek greater enforcement from Chinese authorities. He also said victims should bring civil actions against companies and individuals involved in distributing the precursors and synthetic drugs.

I don’t think we can count on their goodwill, as we have in the past, Barr said.

The Chinese embassy in Washington did not respond immediately to a request for comment.

Rep Raja Krishnamoorthi, the top Democrat on the committee, said Chinese companies are also currently selling synthetic opioids on their websites, and pointed to a screenshot of one such solicitation that committee staff found just Monday night in advance of the hearing. He said such posts have to be taken down immediately.

There are hundreds of these website posts hundreds” Krishnamoorthi said. This is completely unacceptable.

The chemical companies providing fentanyl precursors often have legitimate businesses with customers around the world. The report said fentanyl precursors and other synthetic narcotics are a side hustle designed to maximise profits.

Businesses that deal in fentanyl precursors and narcotics on the side are particularly vulnerable to US sanctions. The same goes for companies such as banks, online platforms and shipping companies that enable illicit fentanyl trade.

The report calls on Congress to clarify the power of the president to sanction those involved in drug trafficking, for the US to impose financial sanctions on violators and for regular reports to Congress on how often sanctions have been undertaken.

It also calls for forming a task force that would place intelligence, economic and enforcement resources under one roof. The head of the group would report directly to the attorney general of the US and serve as a special assistant to the president on the National Security Council with authority over the opioids portfolio.

First Published: Apr 17 2024 | 6:46 AM IST