WASHINGTON – A trio of new bills aims to crack down on fentanyl trafficking from China. The Select Committee on China’s Fentanyl Policy Working Group, which includes Representative Dusty Johnson from South Dakota, introduced the legislation. The group says the bills follow extensive research into the devastating toll of fentanyl on American communities.
“China has been flooding our nation with fentanyl for years, profiting on the destruction and poisoning of American lives,” said Johnson in a press release.
The first bill, the Joint Task Force to Counter Illicit Synthetic Narcotics Act of 2024, seeks to establish a task force that unites federal agencies in joint operations to disrupt drug trafficking networks. By streamlining collaboration and strengthening enforcement, the task force would provide regular updates to Congress.
The second bill expands and introduces sanctions targeting Chinese vessels, ports, and entities involved in the trafficking of fentanyl or its precursors. The CCP Fentanyl Sanctions Act specifically focuses on disrupting producers’ access to the U.S. banking system, described in a bipartisan report as the “Achilles’ heel” of fentanyl manufacturers.
The final bill, the International Protection from PRC Fentanyl and Other Synthetic Opioids Act, takes aim at Chinese entities that fail to enforce safeguards like “Know Your Customer” protocols. It proposes docking fees and compliance requirements for Chinese ports, vessels, and exporters, with penalties for non-compliance or record falsification.
“Getting tough on China includes cracking down on their money-making fentanyl scheme, which is devastating American families,” said Johnson.
Fentanyl continues to be a leading cause of drug-related deaths in the U.S. In 2022, it was responsible for nearly 70% of what the CDC terms as overdose deaths, among adults aged 18-45.